On the 3rd April 2009 04:55 AM the original poster had 97 days to go expecting much improved Internet speeds. Considering this is 28 February 2012 I think we can assume 97 days have passed and then some. Since reading this thread a few days ago I have suffered sleepless nights worrying about this.
I just need to know?
Ron
Ron, I too live in Johannesburg area, South Africa, and I'm sorry to say, but NO, unless you are very good friends with Bill Gates, (or have a finger in our corrupt government) fast internet as opposed to that what is available in America, is still not available to the masses here in South Africa.
We currently have only one “land line” of fixed line telephone service provider in RSA. This is the only company that can give you physical connection between your home and an Internet service provider. (Your typical telephone modem or ADSL connections). They supply ADSL speeds of 384, 1024, 4096 and 10240kbps. These options range in price from R349 ~ $46 to R2359 ~ $315 (R/$=R7.47/$1)
Another company has started laying down fiber optic cables to get it’s network backbone established, but that company has gone very quite over the last year or so. I don’t know if they are still active or even still exist?
There is an alternative here is RSA. Using one of our three Cell phone service providers to get wireless internet connection via your cell phone. This however is even more pricy than the fixed line options, and is mainly only available in the big metropolitan areas. Going into rural South Africa you sometimes battle just to get signal for the cell phone, let alone 1G, 3G or Edge.
Unfortunately, a monopoly is controlling our internet (and the government has a major share in this). Until such time that there can be competition the the monopoly, we as Joe Public will pay what the powers that be demand, and we WILL be happy with what we get.