Telkom frees data for movies and gaming

Johannesburg, 10 Oct 2013

Telkom today announced it will offer its SoftCap customers uncapped data for video and gaming services to maximise the value of the latest bandwidth-hungry devices and services.

"As devices evolve and video streaming gains popularity, we know that to be relevant we must deliver on the data demands that will enable this trend. We must embrace the data explosion to ensure that our customers can embrace the latest that technology has to offer," said Erna Korff, Telkom's Managing Executive for Consumer Marketing.

The do Movies Add-On promotion is effective 1 October. Telkom SoftCap customers will receive uncapped data to the following video service providers, excluding third-party applications: DStv Catch Up online; DStv BoxOffice online; Apple TV using iTunes and Samsung Video Hub. This offer allows customers to rent movies or catch up on missed episodes without the data being deducted from their in-bundle data cap. The promotion will end on 31 March 2014.

From 4 October, the do Gaming Add-On allows customers to apply for uncapped data for 30 days, to activate on some of the major gaming platforms and servers, including: PlayStation Network; Xbox Live; Battle.net; Steam; Origin and do Gaming servers. This offer can be used for online gaming; downloading a patch; or even downloading a game without the data being deducted from in-bundle data.

Additionally, customers can purchase the do Gaming Add-On from 1 November 2013, or after the 30-day trial period, for only R49 per month.

Customers on 1GB packages can upgrade to receive all this additional value as well as to participate in the do Gaming promotion.

"With the imminent launch of the Xbox One and PS4, which we know will be bandwidth-intensive devices, this offer will really enable gamers to utilise these devices to their full potential," said Korff.

"Telkom Internet has been on a determined drive to truly differentiate our broadband offerings to satisfy the customer's growing appetite for media-rich online content. Just last month we launched several value-driven promotions, including the double your data offer, social networking enhancements and free Night surfer data from midnight to 6am," she added.

"We will continue to strive towards becoming South Africa's best ISP as we deliver the best connected home experience in South Africa," concluded Korff.

Telkom

Telkom is a leading communications services provider in South Africa and on the African continent. It had consolidated operating revenue of R32.5 billion and profit after tax of R501 million for the year ended 31 March 2013, excluding a once-off impairment charge. Total assets amounted to R41.6 billion and equity attributable to the owners of Telkom to R17.9 billion as of 31 March 2013. The group generated free cash flow of R2.1 billion for the year ended 31 March 2013.

As of 31 March 2013, the company had approximately 3.8 million telephone access lines in service and 73 400 ports connected via MSAN access. Telkom offers business, residential and payphone customers a wide range of services and products, including:

* Fixed-line retail voice services using PSTN (public switched telephone network) lines, including ISDN (integrated services digital network) lines, and the sale of subscription-based value-added voice services and calling plans;
* Fixed-line customer premises equipment rental and sales services both voice and data needs and these include PABX, computers, routers, modems, telephone handsets and other ancillary equipment;
* Interconnection services, including terminating and transiting traffic from South African mobile operators, as well as from international operators and transiting traffic from mobile to international destinations;
* Fixed-line data services, including domestic and international data transmission services, such as point-to-point leased lines, ADSL (asymmetrical digital subscriber line) services, packet-based services, managed data networking services and Internet access and related information technology services;
* Data centre operations include e-commerce, application service provider, hosting, data storage, e-mail and security services;
* W-CDMA (wideband code division multiple access), a 3G next-generation network, including fixed voice services, data services and nomadic voice services;
* Mobile communication services, including voice services, data services and handset sales through its mobile brand called Telkom Mobile; and
* Other services, including directory services, through Trudon, wireless data services, through Swiftnet, and Internet services outside South Africa, through the iWayAfrica Group.

Convergence is one of Telkom's key strategic initiatives in building a sustainable future for the company. It will lead the provision of converged services in South Africa in support of its mission statement: seamlessly connecting people to a better life.