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Telkom decommissioning landlines

Bassist

Bassist

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Joined
Sep 30, 2009
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My elderly folks got informed that Telkom will no longer be supporting copper landlines, meaning if it breaks/stolen it won't be repaired and the line will be switched off some time in the near future. A 4G telephone has been offered as a replacement, at the same cost.

I'm wondering if they are going to do that with all the millions of landline-connected informal settlement housings I see everywhere, but anyway.

The issue I have is that my folks have an alarm system installed which calls the security company HQ in case of a breach/emergency, using the house's landline. If the above happens, how will the system be able to contact the security company HQ. It won't be ableo to connect using the new 4G Telkom telephone. So I phoned Telkom and I received options:
1) Have the security company install a radio transmitter to the system, which costs close to R1000 I found out in the meantime.
2) Install fibre, subscribe to it, and add a unit to the security system that will use that to connect to the security company HQ, also at a significant cost.
Both the above options will force my folks to spend money, which they don't really have. When I queried this logic to the person on the other end, they hung up on me.

Can anyone confirm
1) If we can reasonably expect Telkom to indeed go through with seizing support to copper landlines, and disconnecting lines
2) What can my folks do that will cost the least amount of money, but still allow the alarm system to connect to the security company HQ for armed response if required.

Thx
 
Bassist said:
My elderly folks got informed that Telkom will no longer be supporting copper landlines, meaning if it breaks/stolen it won't be repaired and the line will be switched off some time in the near future. A 4G telephone has been offered as a replacement, at the same cost.

I'm wondering if they are going to do that with all the millions of landline-connected informal settlement housings I see everywhere, but anyway.

The issue I have is that my folks have an alarm system installed which calls the security company HQ in case of a breach/emergency, using the house's landline. If the above happens, how will the system be able to contact the security company HQ. It won't be ableo to connect using the new 4G Telkom telephone. So I phoned Telkom and I received options:
1) Have the security company install a radio transmitter to the system, which costs close to R1000 I found out in the meantime.
2) Install fibre, subscribe to it, and add a unit to the security system that will use that to connect to the security company HQ, also at a significant cost.
Both the above options will force my folks to spend money, which they don't really have. When I queried this logic to the person on the other end, they hung up on me.

Can anyone confirm
1) If we can reasonably expect Telkom to indeed go through with seizing support to copper landlines, and disconnecting lines
2) What can my folks do that will cost the least amount of money, but still allow the alarm system to connect to the security company HQ for armed response if required.

Thx
Click to expand...
Yea you can do the radio, sim card addon or fibre thing for the radio, only options they really have.

Telkom is pulling copper everywhere and trying to flog off the 4g dumb phones as replacements.

In the area I work they just send the phone via a delivery company and then use the fact that people accept the delivery as a way to carry on the contract. Luckily reception called me and I told the guy to take the device back so we managed to finally cancel our fax line :ROFL:
 
Bassist said:
My elderly folks got informed that Telkom will no longer be supporting copper landlines, meaning if it breaks/stolen it won't be repaired and the line will be switched off some time in the near future. A 4G telephone has been offered as a replacement, at the same cost.

I'm wondering if they are going to do that with all the millions of landline-connected informal settlement housings I see everywhere, but anyway.

The issue I have is that my folks have an alarm system installed which calls the security company HQ in case of a breach/emergency, using the house's landline. If the above happens, how will the system be able to contact the security company HQ. It won't be ableo to connect using the new 4G Telkom telephone. So I phoned Telkom and I received options:
1) Have the security company install a radio transmitter to the system, which costs close to R1000 I found out in the meantime.
2) Install fibre, subscribe to it, and add a unit to the security system that will use that to connect to the security company HQ, also at a significant cost.
Both the above options will force my folks to spend money, which they don't really have. When I queried this logic to the person on the other end, they hung up on me.

Can anyone confirm
1) If we can reasonably expect Telkom to indeed go through with seizing support to copper landlines, and disconnecting lines
2) What can my folks do that will cost the least amount of money, but still allow the alarm system to connect to the security company HQ for armed response if required.

Thx
Click to expand...
Well As far as I a aware Openserve is running a special - free installation until end March. Otherwise I'd go for the fibre route if you think the 4G is going to be unstable
 
Bassist said:
My elderly folks got informed that Telkom will no longer be supporting copper landlines, meaning if it breaks/stolen it won't be repaired and the line will be switched off some time in the near future. A 4G telephone has been offered as a replacement, at the same cost.

I'm wondering if they are going to do that with all the millions of landline-connected informal settlement housings I see everywhere, but anyway.

The issue I have is that my folks have an alarm system installed which calls the security company HQ in case of a breach/emergency, using the house's landline. If the above happens, how will the system be able to contact the security company HQ. It won't be ableo to connect using the new 4G Telkom telephone. So I phoned Telkom and I received options:
1) Have the security company install a radio transmitter to the system, which costs close to R1000 I found out in the meantime.
2) Install fibre, subscribe to it, and add a unit to the security system that will use that to connect to the security company HQ, also at a significant cost.
Both the above options will force my folks to spend money, which they don't really have. When I queried this logic to the person on the other end, they hung up on me.

Can anyone confirm
1) If we can reasonably expect Telkom to indeed go through with seizing support to copper landlines, and disconnecting lines
2) What can my folks do that will cost the least amount of money, but still allow the alarm system to connect to the security company HQ for armed response if required.

Thx
Click to expand...
you can use a sim dialler like they use on electric fences .alarm plugs into it as well as a standard handset for phone calls .called a gsm dialler ,has battery backup and is also mains powered .the new telkom base station for the handset may also have a wired input for a secondary device to be plugged in.safest is probably the radio link but some also charge a monthly fee for the liscence for the transmitter
 
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Update: security provider charges R1100 for the radio transmitter once-off. No ICASA license fees.
My folks don't want fibre.
Somehow they already received the stupid 4G phone now with SIM card (don't know how that happened) so the landline is now disconnected already. I thought about putting some other PAYG Telkom Mobile SIM card in the 4G telephone so they could cancel the Telkom contract, but apparently they will only cancel if you return the 4G telephone.

I guess the only option now is to fork out the R1100 for the radio transmitter.
 
Bassist said:
My elderly folks got informed that Telkom will no longer be supporting copper landlines, meaning if it breaks/stolen it won't be repaired and the line will be switched off some time in the near future. A 4G telephone has been offered as a replacement, at the same cost.

I'm wondering if they are going to do that with all the millions of landline-connected informal settlement housings I see everywhere, but anyway.

The issue I have is that my folks have an alarm system installed which calls the security company HQ in case of a breach/emergency, using the house's landline. If the above happens, how will the system be able to contact the security company HQ. It won't be ableo to connect using the new 4G Telkom telephone. So I phoned Telkom and I received options:
1) Have the security company install a radio transmitter to the system, which costs close to R1000 I found out in the meantime.
2) Install fibre, subscribe to it, and add a unit to the security system that will use that to connect to the security company HQ, also at a significant cost.
Both the above options will force my folks to spend money, which they don't really have. When I queried this logic to the person on the other end, they hung up on me.

Can anyone confirm
1) If we can reasonably expect Telkom to indeed go through with seizing support to copper landlines, and disconnecting lines
2) What can my folks do that will cost the least amount of money, but still allow the alarm system to connect to the security company HQ for armed response if required.

Thx
Click to expand...
These calls come from Telkom's telemarketing department, not their technical department.

They have zero knowledge about the current situation regarding the copper connections in the area and are simply trying to get you to move over to a new package they can earn a commission.

I've had 3 calls to this effect and called them out on their BS each time. They're clueless about any of the technical aspects and just out to make a quick commission.

I'm not saying you shouldn't make a plan to move away from copper if it's viable, just saying no need to rush into anything despite what they may be telling you.
 
Bassist said:
1) Have the security company install a radio transmitter to the system, which costs close to R1000 I found out in the meantime.
Click to expand...
I did this and then completely moved away from Telkom.

EDIT - keep in mind that there may/will be an annual radio licensing fee to pay.
 
I'm wondering if they are going to do that with all the millions of landline-connected informal settlement housings I see everywhere, but anyway.
Click to expand...

What are you talking about? Show me one informal settlement that has a landlines, I wanna see something?
 
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