Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - Fin24 users have questioned Telkom’s use of star athlete Usain Bolt in marketing fibre broadband in South Africa.
On Sunday, Telkom announced that it has teamed up with the sprinter to promote the company’s fibre broadband technology.
Telkom has tapped 100 and 200 metres world record holder to promote the company’s fibre broadband offerings which promise speeds of up to 100Mbps.
READ: Usain Bolt to market Telkom fibre
The company also has a target to connect up to one millions home to its broadband fibre network by 2018. This is after other competitors such as Vumatel, Fibrehoods and even MTN have had a head start by rolling out fibre to big metropolitan areas like Johannesburg.
But Fin24 users have questioned the campaign.
Fin24 user Ashaylan said:
“Well it's good they are trying something different and bringing in an international star but what's the point when the fibre is only in predominantly in white affluent areas in Johannesburg and Cape Town and not in other places. I come from Pietermaritzburg and would love to have fibre and no one has an idea when it will actually come because they are busy putting in in white areas only in South Africa - it shows who they really care about.”
Fin24 user Johan wrote:
“Well, Telkom was quick to inform me just a couple of weeks ago on enquiring about one of their offerings that one can only really benefit from a 10 mbps ADSL copper line connection once your distance from the closest exchange doesn't exceed 2 kilometres. If my understanding of this matter is thus to be correct, a fixed line user in any town with an area larger than 2 square kilometres cannot access the internet close to the speed that they supposedly pay for. So to my knowledge the winner will very simply not be Usain Bolt, but the fibre network that can get to my home first, which incidentally isn't situated in one of the large metros to begin with. Though, it doesn't at all imply that the need for it does not exist in the smaller towns too. I suppose this can also be an indication why the numbers in South Africa when it comes to making use of fixed line ADSL does not add up as expected... .”
And Fin24 user Patrick wrote:
“They can use Mr Bolt but still today I don't have an internet connection - always the same story of line capable theft. Telkom is too comfortable. Other ISPs (internet service providers) overtook them while watching.”
