The ADSL ISP that we recommend
by Andrew Smith on 13/05/08 at 11:53 am
7 comments
We fairly often get asked for our advice on how to get connected to the internet. We’ve experienced 3G, iBurst and ADSL (and of course ISDN and dial-up!) and although all have had their issues, I can confidently say that South Africa is finally making progress in this area. Today I downloaded a 39mb file in under 2 minutes. I kid you not.
My current recommendation for those tethered to a desk is that ADSL is still the best option if Telkom offers it in your neighbourhood. If you use more than about 1Gig of bandwidth a month (not hard if you surf Facebook, watch the odd Youtube video, and perhaps do some online shopping), ADSL is the cheapest monthly cost, and if you buy your own modem there are no long-term contracts to sign. A lot is going to happen in South Africa’s internet space in the next 2 years, so I’m definitely not committing to any one provider for that long.
At Live Alchemy we experimented with various ISP’s, including Cybersmart and Telkom (everyone has to get their lines from Telkom, but you can also get internet access there), and we have now settled on Axxess. I signed up online with my credit card and got a username and password straight away. That was about 6 months ago, and we have not had a single minute’s downtime. In fact, there has never even been a reason to call them. Their bandwidth costs R59 per Gig on our 4mb ADSL line, and if you run out you just go to their site and buy some more with your credit card. It’s a great example of a company who have reduced overheads by making their website easy to use and functional.
Unfortunately the Ideate team are not techies, so we can’t offer advice on what modem to buy, what laptop you need, or how to jump to the front of the Telkom queue. But we do like celebrating South African small businesses who are providing impressive service. Go Axxess!
Andrew Smith is the pedantic systems guy behind Live Alchemy, a SA e-commerce company. Andrew writes for Ideate in an attempt to make the world a more efficient place. View more articles by Andrew Smith.
Kevin
May 13th, 2008
We also use Axxess and very happy with them – especially the live top-up which re-activates your account immediately!
wormyzn
May 13th, 2008
I have to agree axxess totally rock. Been using them for over a year and their system just works. We use them for bulk sms as well and we have never had a sms not been sent.
Anne Other
May 13th, 2008
their home page lists their contact number as a max toll number (0861). i stopped looking then.
Andrew
May 14th, 2008
That’s an interesting perception you have Anne. We were considering an 0861 number for Yuppiechef.
As far as I know, Axxess are based in Port Elizabeth, so you would be paying a long distance call anyway, which is about the same cost as MaxiCall.
Axxess is a national company (their physical location is irrelevant to their customers), so an 0861 number gives their customers the impression that they operate nationally. You might not have signed up if you saw their number was 041 xxx xxxx?
0800 or 0860 would be an option, but that costs more money for the person receiving the calls. Those costs have to be passed back to the customer-base, so you end up paying anyway!
Anne Other
May 14th, 2008
: As far as I know, Axxess are based in Port Elizabeth, so you would be paying a long distance call anyway, which is about the same cost as MaxiCall.
and how did you know that? telkom does not print the costs of 086 numbers in the phone directory along with all the other call charges. companies take advantage by not printing disclaimers such as “long distance rates apply” (thanks icasa!). my *local* isp’s phonebook entry is 0861 when it should be costing me a local call. the cost is never equivalent when your local customers (often a majority) get the shaft.
tell me, does your company phone not bar 086 numbers? many do and it’s a rigmarole to get the actual number, just to conduct business. security companies (adt et al) promote their max-toll numbers on signage/letterhead, which is a critical contact problem as the advertising reinforces a number which many businesses cannot reach in an emergency.
: Axxess is a national company (their physical location is irrelevant to their customers), so an 0861 number gives their customers the impression that they operate nationally. You might not have signed up if you saw their number was 041 xxx xxxx?
many fly-by-night businesses and roadside spammers publish a lone contact number beginning 08(61). i find area code contact numbers suggest a physical address and a real brick and mortor establishment.
: 0800 or 0860 would be an option, but that costs more money for the person receiving the calls. Those costs have to be passed back to the customer-base, so you end up paying anyway!
…unless you live in a country without a monopoly abusing phone utility. hellkom needs to be taken to task and provide a cheaper toll-free service. in the usa you get an entire phonebook of just 0800 numbers!
regardless, i’d be careful of the temptation to make this cost an externality (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Externality). it does not benefit the public good to add a hidden cost.
Andy Tribe
May 9th, 2009
Axxess is looking good. My problem is that the ADSL line provided by Telkom has degenerated to total garbage and they now ignore my requests to fix it. I suppose that rules out Axxess due to no fault on their part.
May resort to a Neotel Lite phone and 3G Internet connection. Neotelcan’t do internet and phone call simultaneously.
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