Comments on: Mobile operators in Pretoria for urgent talks (update 1)

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:04:34 +0000

Dominic I do not understand why you see Cell C as the consumer champion with regards the whole interconnect debate. I do not see reductions in a symmetrical MTR providing any real benefit to any of the mobile operators which they could then pass on to the consumer. The only way that the consumer can benefit is if the mobile operators reduce profits. The introduction of an asymmetrical rate between Vodacom/MTN and Cell C would provide a benefit to Cell C but at the expense of Vodacom/MTN. That however seems conceptually unfair.

By: Isak

Isak — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:22:02 +0000

I want to say let the market dictate prices… but there are circumstances when the “greed” of some can seriously affect the health of the overall economy.

Let’s take electricity for example. We don’t have an alternative that we can substitute for it and no matter what the “market” demands for it we will end up paying for it because we do need electricity to work and earn the money that pays our bills.

So why target the cellphone companies? This is not also the first target… the big supermarkets were targeted recently, we are still living in a country with a free market and yes there should be a anti-competition law but what will happen if government succeeds in dictating pricing? So from me that is a NO, you are not forced to have a cellphone, you can be without it, but you need essentials like electricity.

By: John

John — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:05:49 +0000

How sick! The cellphone companies are sitting and colluding and fighting government when they want to reduce the fees they charge, between them and the banks, how much money has been stolen from South Africans and they sit there, raking in billions (read that Billions!) from us and get arrogant and aggressive when they are challenged, it is really time the government sorted out both the banks and the cell phone companies!

By: Dominic

Dominic — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:58:36 +0000

I commend Cell C for their plight to lower Call rates for the people!
We have been exploited enough.Why is it take so long for this issue to be resolved?
It is fact that Vodacom,MTN and telkom upped the interconnect cost by 100 cents! just before Cell C came into being,no doubt this was a strategic move.Keep going Cell C we support you.

By: Garth

Garth — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:11:14 +0000

About time. I really hope they’re laying down the law, telling them how it’s gonna be, rather than begging for crumbs.