Why 2011 will be the year of content
South Africans generally have a raw deal when it comes to gaining access to the latest music, movies and television shows. Sometimes we have to wait months before the latest movies and TV shows
WikiLeaks: some leaks can be dangerous
The mass release of thousands of confidential cable communications by WikiLeaks has sparked huge debate around the world about whether the international whistle-blower site was right to do it.
Why Sentech will miss Patel
The resignation of Sentech chairman Quraysh Patel after just seven months in the job has left many concerned about the state-owned company’s future. His work at the troubled broadcasting signal
Casualties of war
SA’s telecommunications industry has assembled on the battlefield with two players, one new, Telkom’s mobile business 8ta, and one reinvigorated, Cell C, getting ready to take on the giants of industry. Some smaller players are gathering on the flanks and others may yet make an entrance.
Put a stop to digital TV nonsense
It’s been almost six months since Southern Africa’s broadcasting industry was thrown into turmoil over the department of communications decision to review the standard SA should use for digital television migration. And with the clock ticking
ISPs forced to play Russian roulette
Last week, well-known casino Piggs Peak shut down its online service after a high court ruling effectively outlawed Internet-based gambling in SA. It was a long battle that dated as far back as 2004 when the Gauteng Gambling Board bemoaned the fact that the company did not have a gambling licence in SA and should therefore not allow South Africans to use its service.
Dialling the wrong number
South Africans once regarded Neotel as having the real potential to offer a competitive alternative to Telkom in residential services. But as the company releases an uninspired prepaid retail offering this month, that dream already appears to have faded.
Not so Super after all
Three years ago, when the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) licensed three new pay-TV players, most of us couldn’t wait to see something super. Four new companies were given a chance to bring new shows to SA’s TV screens. Most importantly, they were supposed to provide competition to the incumbent monopoly, MultiChoice.
A general shame
When former head of the SA National Defence Force, Gen (Ret) Siphiwe Nyanda, was appointed as minister of communications last year, there was much grumbling. “What does a military man know about communications?” quickly became the general sentiment.
A beautiful game, until someone gets robbed
We are heading into the last four games of the Fifa World Cup 2010, and if there is one thing that we can take away from the games played so far, it’s that Fifa president Sepp Blatter’s vehement resistance to the use of technology has become untenable. Sports such as rugby and tennis have shot past football in their use of technology, but thanks to the tight grip of the Fifa board
David Sinclair: 
Navin Moodley: 
Doczc: 
Graham: 
Chanyane: