The continuous Telkom price hikes have left many customers in despair and with no other choice but to disconnect their land line connections.
In 2006 Telkom lost almost 20 000 customers and last year more than 60 000 lines were disconnected. Recently Telkom received approval from the Independent Communications of South Africa to once again increase their tariffs, causing more pressure on customers.
According to the director of the research firm World Wide Worx Arthur Goldstuck, Telkom has never decreased its prices; it’s in competition with every voice over IP (VoIP) callback and cellular services. Only long distance call tariffs have been decreased marginally because competition from web-bases VoIP services which allow you to make calls free of charge.
Thami Bolani, chairman of the National Consumer Forum said that there isn’t any land-line service competition and that is why Telkom has been providing a poor service these increases are said to not be good for small business development especially when prices are compared to those overseas.
By IT News Africa staff reporter
