Vox Telecom is the only company in South Africa right now that recognized the value of a customer. 

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa recently approved a 2% increase in the prices Telkom can charge customers for telephone calls.

The new prices have been in effect since 1st of August 2008. Approval of the rate increase was a shock to the industry and analysts alike. However, most South Africans are not aware that they are paying more for telecommunications when elsewhere in the world prices are going down, not increasing.

There is no good reason for the recent increase. In recent years, South Africa's telecommunications industry has undergone a slow process of deregulation and libralization from which consumers should benefit in the form of lower costs. Telkom, it seems, does not seem to think so and continues to increase prices.

The deregulation and libralization of our telecommunications industry is however enabling more telecommunications companies to enter the market and compete directly with Telkom. Many of these companies are offering consumers more cost-effective and better services. The South African consumer is gradually becoming aware of these offerings, but many are not aware of the new choices they have.

One telecommunications company called Vox Telecom is doing just that, offering a cheaper alternative to Telkom. During “Peak Hours” Vox Telecom is 23% cheaper calls than Telkom on national calls and 16% cheaper on calls to Cellular Networks.