South Africa

Taken from Finance24 : -

 

Addressing delegates at the eighth Southern Africa Telecommunications Network and Applications Conference (SatNac), Telkom (TKG) CEO Papi Molotsane said the Convergence Bill must enable sector profitability, encourage constant innovation and the ongoing investment required to stay abreast of advancing technology.

 

The Bill must protect the rights of existing licensees, and their substantial investments in the changeover from existing legislation. This protection is critical to preserving investor confidence, he said. In line with other speakers, Molotsane also agreed that convergence cuts across several different spheres and is driven by "unstoppable" advances in technology.

 

"At a market level, a proliferation of converging technologies continuously becomes available. Regulators have their work cut out to keep up with developments to provide a workable framework for sustained development of the ICT (information and communications technology) sector," he said.

 

I can't help it. I'm biased. Whenever I see a Press release or commentary from Telkom or one of their functionaries I just see red. I guess its got something to do with constantly getting the shaft for the past 10 years in phonebills, service etc. while better alternatives were denied to me. So lets look at the latest trash to roll in from the jokers at Telkom. First off, lets just remember where Telkom came from and who put up the the capital for Telkom to become a viable company - the South African taxpayer. Lets also not forget who for the past 10 years has had a virtual monopoly on Telecoms in this country and has been found guilty of anti-competitive practises.

 

Against this background lets turn now to these latest utterances of Papi. "The Convergence Bill must enable sector profitability", I'm sorry but I wansn't aware it was the governments job to "enable" ANY sector of the economy to be profitable. That is entirely the job of those businessmen who make up that sector. This is not pre-primary school where Mommy has to come hold your hand and take you to the lunch line so you can be sure to stuff your face. If thats what you want (to be profitable) DO IT YOURSELF - the days of state-sponsored hand-outs are over.

 

"The Bill must protect the rights of existing licensees, and their substantial investments", again all those who invested in Telkom have not been forced to do so, they did so voluntarily and accepted both the benefits and risks involved. I didn't hear any complaining from investors after Telkom gouged that massive R6.807-billion profit last year! So why the sad lament now to protect the "rights" of the investors (indeed what about the rights of the SA economy at large you idiot)...?

 

"Regulators have their work cut out to keep up with developments to provide a workable framework for sustained development", here I'll agree with Papi. Regulators DO have their work cut out for them, however the biggest challenge they face is from Hellkom moving in and rolling over all new startups!

 

RESIST the Telkom agenda!