/ 20 November 1997

Telkom gets slapped down again

TUESDAY, 9.15AM:

TELKOM’S feud with the SA Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (Satra) continues, with the parastatal’s latest submission for proposed price hikes in January returned with suggestions for modification.

Telkom was on Monday informed that Satra will not approve the increases until Telkom changes the terms and conditions to protect customers. A Satra representative said some of Telkom’s terms and conditions are “fundamentally flawed in a number of respects.”

Satra’s recommended changes will protect the Telkom customer’s rights to privacy, and will ensure that Telkom cannot amend its terms and conditions without consulting Satra. The regulatory body also said Telkom has to establish a functional complaints and arbitration procedure.

Telkom has until December 15 to make the changes before resubmitting the proposals to Satra. Telkom is currently in a court dispute with Satra over the unrelated matter of control over Internet infrastructure.