The Unholy Alliance: How Telco’s are Trying to Rip-Off South Africans
Under the guise of "Fair Share," telecommunication operators in South Africa are desperately trying to milk the public for every rand they can get. Andile Ngcaba, a former ICT policymaker, has blown the whistle on this outrageous scheme, warning South Africans not to fall for their deceit.
At the Datacentrix Showcase 2024 event, Ngcaba, founder of Convergence Partners, slammed the Association of Comms & Technology (ACT) for pushing this extortionate idea. "If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it" – a phrase that couldn’t ring more true in this case.
The argument put forth by ACT, fueled by European operators, is that Over-The-Top (OTT) companies like Netflix should contribute to the development of broadband infrastructure in the country. But let’s be real – this is just a thinly veiled attempt by telcos to recoup lost profits and pad their bottom lines.
Critics have correctly pointed out that consumers already pay telcos for access to their networks, and that Big Tech companies like Netflix are not just idle bystanders, but engines of innovation and economic growth that create jobs and stimulate local markets.
Ngcaba’s message could not be clearer: South Africans should not be fooled by this scheme designed to line the pockets of the 1%. "We must not fix things that are not broken," he advises. But will anyone listen, or will we continue to fall victim to the greed of our telcos?
The Truth: Fair Share is nothing more than an attempt by telcos to hold innocent consumers hostage and rake in even more profits. Don’t get fooled – demand better service, not more taxes in disguise.
