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06 November 2013

Telkom stands ready for rainy season

Unfavourable weather conditions in the form of heavy rains and electrical storm activity are expected across South Africa during the annual rainy season. Telkom is gearing up to minimise network related faults caused by the adverse weather conditions and the effect this has on our customers.

Thunderstorms are most prevalent at this time of year especially in the interior regions of the country - greater Gauteng and Free State areas being most affected.

Gauteng, in particular, is predisposed to heavy rains as well as a high water table often resulting in the flooding of underground access infrastructure. Flooding could cause faults but it also restricts workmen from accessing the fault zone, causing delays in repair times.

"The Company understands the great inconvenience disconnection of its services brings to its customers and will be on extra high alert during this period, mobilising all available technicians to work additional hours," says Mr Theo Hess, Telkom's Managing Executive for Network Filed Services.

Affected customers can reach Telkom to report their problems via four channels:

  • Faults can be logged electronically via the Telkom website - www.telkom.co.za
  • Customers can SMS "SERVICE" and their number to 30591 for quick and easy assistance.
  • Telkom's app can be downloaded for free on an Apple device and the Android version from the Google Play Store.
  • Residential Customers can call 10210 for assistance, whilst Business Customers can contact 10217.

Mr Hess advises customers that once they have obtained a reference number after reporting a fault, they do not need to call Telkom again as the Company’s internal systems will manage all faults and ensure that repairs are completed.

"Telkom stands prepared to diminish the network related faults that inevitably come with heavy rains and electrical storms. However, customers are urged to unplug all electronic devices, especially computers and modems, to avoid damage from harmful power surges during electrical storms," he suggests.

Electrical power surges caused by lightning may damage computer components with excessive voltage. Modems are especially susceptible, because a harmful power surge can reach the modem in two ways - through the electrical power grid and through the telephone line to which the modem is connected.

Customers are advised that when there is a thunderstorm, not only should all power supply cables be unplugged, but also any telephone cables that are connected to the computer.

For further enquiries, please contact:

Pynee Chetty

Senior Specialist: Media Relations

Group Communication

Tel:+27 12 642 1716

Mobile: +27 81 389 7874

Email: chettpr2@telkom.co.za

 OR

Leigh-Ann Francis

Specialist: Media Relations

Group Communication

Tel: +27 12 642 1728

Mobile: +27 81 391 4780

Email: francilm@telkom.co.za

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ABOUT TELKOM:

Telkom is a leading communications services provider in South Africa. We had consolidated operating revenue of R16.8 billion and normalised profit after tax of R1, 683 million for the period ended 30 September 2015. Total assets amounted to R41.9 billion and equity attributable to the owners of Telkom to R23.5 billion as of 30 September 2015. The group generated normalised free cash flow of R1.4 billion for the period ended 30 September 2015.

As of 30 September 2015, we had approximately 3.3 million telephone access lines in service and 1,030,441 ports connected via MSAN access. We offer business, residential and payphone customers a wide range of services and products, including:

  • fixed-line retail voice services using PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) lines, including ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) lines, and the sale of subscription based value-added voice services and calling plans;
  • fixed-line customer premises equipment rental and sales services both voice and data needs and these include PABX, Computers, Routers, Modems, Telephone handsets and other ancillary equipment;
  • interconnection services, including terminating and transiting traffic from South African mobile operators, as well as from international operators and transiting traffic from mobile to international destinations;
  • fixed-line data services, including domestic and international data transmission services, such as point-to-point leased lines, ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line) services, packet-based services, managed data networking services and internet access and related information technology services;
  • Data Centre Operations includes e-commerce, application service provider, hosting, data storage, e-mail and security services;
  • W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), a 3G next generation network, including fixed voice services, data services and nomadic voice services;
  • mobile communication services, including voice services, data services and handset sales through our mobile navbar-brand called Telkom Mobile;
  •  information and communication services including cloud services, infrastructure services, workspace services, global service integration management and hardware and network equipment sales locally, in seven African countries, the UK and Dubai through Business Connexion Group; and
  • other services including directory services, through Trudon (Pty) Ltd, wireless data services, through Swiftnet (Pty) Ltd.

Convergence is one of our key strategic initiatives in building a sustainable future for Telkom.  We will lead the provision of converged services in South Africa in support of our mission statement: Seamlessly connecting people to a better life.