WE had a fibre optic line installed one week ago by subcontractors to Telkom.
We thought that this would be an upgrade on the ADSL line that we had before.
It turns out that it is in fact a step backwards in that with this installation, the telephone line is also directed via the fibre router that is powered by an electric current. Once that is turned off, for whatever reason, the telephone line is turned off.
This was not the case with the ADSL line.
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No one at the Telkom sales department, nor the installation staff, alerted us to the problem. It was only when on a call that was suddenly cut off that we discovered the problem.
We contacted the technical department at Telkom and were directed to their sales department who informed us that they would not reinstall the copper line and that we would need to live with this problem. This was confirmed by the Telkom technical department and asked whether they could remove the fibre line.
We need to have a continuous telephone service for numerous reasons.
Telkom, nor the installation staff, advised us of the problem both at the time we ordered the fibre and at the time of the installation when we would have made the decision not to go ahead.
Undoubtedly, other Telkom customers should be made aware of the ‘no telephone’ problem before they make changes to their communication system.
R-R von Appen
Hillcrest
