In this episode of TalkCentral, your regular hosts Duncan McLeod and Craig Wilson dive into the big technology stories of the past week. On the line-up this week: criticism over operators’ mobile data pricing and their reaction; why data expires; and the latest developments around fibre access networks in South Africa
An important security feature on the new Mandela banknotes, which were rolled out in November last year, has been found to be defective, it was reported on Sunday. The security thread, the most visible feature on the notes, which was meant to be embedded in the note, was
Telkom may be planning to spin off its copper-based network assets into a special purpose vehicle (SPV), a speculative news report suggests, but it’s unclear why the company would agree to such a move. In an entry posted late on Thursday night, a consumer forum site said it had spoken to unnamed sources – the website didn’t
Ever been frustrated that data you bought from your telecommunications provider expired before you had a chance to use it? South Africa’s operators are entitled to do this, they argue, because you’re purchase airtime, you’re buying a service rather than a commodity. In other words, consumers are
View the latest contribution from TechCentral cartoonist Jerm.
Telkom appears set to face industrial action after talks between the telecommunications operator and trade unions Solidarity and the South African Communications Union reached an impasse on Thursday at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration. The wage dispute began
The unexpected delay in processing the Independent Systems and Market Operator Bill in parliament sends the wrong signals to investors, creates uncertainty in the market and hinders those trying to enter the electricity market, according to independent power producers. The bill is
Twenty years ago, we thought that the solar system, with its collection of planets — which then included now-demoted Pluto — was unique. But in the past few years, new data, aided by planet-hunting spacecraft Kepler, has shown that, not only are there billions of planets in the universe, in the Milky Way they are also
Two broadcasters, both perceived to be sympathetic to president Jacob Zuma and his government, are set to launch 24-hour news satellite channels on the same continent-wide MultiChoice DStv platform. Broadcasting sources confirmed to the Mail & Guardian this week that the SABC is back in discussions
The Internet Service Providers’ Association (Ispa) has argued that insufficient competition between mobile operators is keeping the cost of mobile broadband higher than it should be and limiting uptake by South African consumers. But the operators say it’s not that simple. Vodacom spokesman Richard
