A competitive market and challenging regulatory environment have contributed to Telkom’s difficulties in the past six months. However, the launch of 8.ta, Telkom’s new mobile service, is expected to retain and expand Telkom’s customer base while growing revenue for the company.
Telkom’s revenues from voice telephony plummeted in the past year, falling by 19,1% to R6,9bn. The fall was only partly offset by a 14,9% increase in data revenues. In the six months to 30 September 2010, Telkom’s overall
In the one month since its launch, Telkom’s new mobile service 8ta has signed up 186 033 new customers, the JSE-listed telecommunications operator said in notes accompanying its interim financial results, published on Monday.
Where will the money come from? This is the key question arising from confusion over cabinet’s decision to “support” — as opposed to authorise — a proposed additional R20bn for power utility Eskom.
The Competition Commission wants to add charges against Telkom in two cases of alleged market position abuse, which is now being investigated by the Competition Tribunal. Telkom faces potential charges of up to R7bn
New communications minister Roy Padayachie brings talent and fresh vigour to a portfolio long in need of both. But his desire to hang on to government control over Telkom makes little sense.
A battle over control of Telkom may be on the cards. Communications minister Roy Padayachie has warned that government does not want to lose the control it exercises over the JSE-listed group when special rights it enjoys expire early next year.
Newly appointed communications minister Roy Padayachie wants to ensure the “local loop”, the so-called “last mile” of copper cables that connect consumers to Telkom’s network, is unbundled within 12 months.
Government has extended the contract of Telkom chairman Jeff Molobela, but only until the end of December, TechCentral has learnt from a senior source at the JSE-listed telecommunications group.
There’s no end to the news flow in SA’s telecommunications industry. The big news this week is the new joint venture between Cell C, Convergence Partners and Dimension Data’s Internet Solutions, FibreCo, which will build a national transmission network at an eventual cost of R5bn.
