Is ADSL really a must-have?

Perhaps the question is quickly answered by many with a scoffing “YES”, but I’ve been using a dial up connection (56kps) for the last 2 weeks and must say I have been pleasantly surprised by how few problems I’ve had with it. Granted I have only been using it in the evenings for recreational purposes and not for work, but it makes me wonder why so many other recreational surfers get caught up in the ADSL worries that comes with living in Joburg, having to deal with Telkom and having to pay what they do for ADSL.

When my husband Brett and I first knew we would be coming to Johannesburg from Grahamstown (where I used the Internet for about 8 hours a day at work and didn’t want it at home) we found out about getting ADSL for the few months we’d be in Joburg (until we moved to Leeds). I did some research (using the Internet at work) on local ISP’s to find the most reliable, but reasonably priced. Once I found one I was happy with, I phoned to find out about costs, conditions and the small print associated with any contract. After being pleasantly surprised by the price (about R100 for the contract) I was told I would have to phone Telkom (the fixed network operator – the ONLY one in SA – hopefully not for long) to install an ADSL line – here is where the confusion began.

After telling me about the great packages associated with getting ADSL and choosing Telkom as my ISP I was told that it would take at least 4 weeks to get someone to phone me back who would then put me on a list for a line to be installed – who knows how long this could have taken, though I’ve known people who live in busy areas who have waited 6 months for their ADSL line to be installed. I decided it wasn’t worth the wait – plus I couldn’t imagine even a week without being able to surf the net, check my email and MSN some friends. The problems (so I’ve heard) don’t stop once you get the line installed. The service is flaky at best and I’ve decided definitely not worth the installation fee.

Instead, I’m comforted each evening by the bleeps and burps of my modem connecting and although I’ve had to learn the art of patience, organization (I’ve got to plan each trip online so that I don’t waste time and money) and being quite ‘Scrooge-like’ with my time and the sites I visit – no more frivolous, aimless wandering – I get on with a purpose and am always impressed with how quickly I accomplish it.

Even as I read through this (which I’ve typed before hand to save time online!) I realize how lucky I am. I’m still a tech minority in South Africa where less than 10% of the population have access to the Internet – most at work and most not representative of the country (not even close).