For all Home and Business ADSL users that are on the 1024kbps line, will, starting September, have their line speed increased up to 4mbps. I think 4mbps is the maximum speed that a telephone exchange can go, so once 4mbps becomes the norm here in SA, don’t expect it to go any faster. True broadband in SA is still a long way off. To think, Namibia just last month release their very first 24 hour always on connection. A wireless solution from Mweb, that connects at a maximum 56kbps. But with very few towers, connection can never be guaranteed.
The problem with this 4mbps connection is, that even though your will have a faster connection, you not going to experience a massive increase in web browsing speed. Not all South African hosting providers can give every internet user that type of speed, so in essence, the biggest difference you will experience is download speeds to sites hosted internationally.
If you come across a 384kbps connection, browse a couple of local sites. Then when you back at the office, try browsing those same sites with your 1024kbps connection. Do you actually notice a difference?
I think Telkom should focus a little more on saving users money, and reducing costs, than increasing speeds. Anyhow, at least Telkom are trying to do something.
It seems that the fastest connection in SA has now been eclipsed.
4mbps is actually half the speed of the maximum. ADSL operates at a max 8mbps.
I’m an ex-South African, so glad I’m not stuck with Telkom anymore
But you’re lucky, here in Australia, our national maximum speed is 1.5mbps (the exchanges still support 8mbps, but our Telecom is greedy), and there’s no hope in site for a national increase from our main provider (which wholesales to others).
Although, ISP’s are starting to roll out their own networks, alot of exchanges in Metro areas have ADSL2+ (max 24mbps) installed now, not by the main provider (Telstra) but by others, also alot cheaper too, in most cases.
Thanks for the insight into Australia, David.
It’s all cool and well to have a 4mbps or a Max 8mbps connection here, but if you are restricted to ridiculously low caps (3GB is the norm at the moment), then what the hell does that help!
We seriously need a second netowrk operator here in SA… But the thing I fear the most is they probably going to try and match Telkom cent for cent / connection speed for connection speed, and then the SNO wouldn’t have lived up to the hype.
But we will wait in anticipation, as always! 
I hate to rub salt into the wound, but here in the UK quite a few ISP’s are now offering 24mbps uncapped ADSL2+ connections (they stress that these connections are subject to ‘fair use’ to cover themselves when they need to throttle back some users).
The ‘norm’ is 8mbps now – it has been for quite some time although a lot of people are sticking with the cheaper 2 or 4mbps option.
I really feel for you being stuck in the slow lane. Hopefully the situation will change for the better soon.
Dear Sir/ Madam,
We are planning to establish a Sri Lankan TV Station over here in California. Therefore, the preliminary requirement is the satellite frequency that can broadcast some of our native programs with limited live facilities, which is directly from Sri Lanka to United States.
Please send us your capability with DASL and explaining the process that you can collaborate with us for this expected project.
We would rather appreciate if you can respond to this request as soon as possible.
Kith Jayasena
818) 402 8010 Cell
Neathravahini (Creative Director)
Sri Lanka Telivision Network
USA