FRIDAY, 8.30AM
TELKOM took its spat with the SA Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (Satra) to a new level on Thursday, announcing that it had no intention of cancelling increases in the costs of calls to cellphones, because Satra’s objections had not arrived on time.
Telkom said it had informed Satra of the proposed increases (see below) in early September, and Satra could not halt the decision now, when cost and effort had already been expended to enforce the order.
THURSDAY, 1.30PM
THE South African Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (Satra) instructed state-owned Telkom to reverse its recently announced rates increases on telephone calls to cellular phones on Wednesday. Satra said Telkom’s announcement of an 8% to 20% price increase was made without the correct tariff-filing procedures.
Satra chairman Nape Maepa said: “Under the circumstances, the proposed change of rates cannot become effective because Telkom has not filed.” Satra needs to have a detailed breakdown of the new tariff structure before such an increase can be effective.
Telkom representative Pinky Moholi said the body had gone ahead with the rates increase because Satra had not lodged any complaints about the filing earlier. Satra has requested that Telkom refile its request for the increase.
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