Letting the cables sleep

I'm a music person; in fact my life to date has a soundtrack made up of some of the most bizarre combinations of soppy seventies music, eighties anthems, dark alternative ballads and tear-your-jeans rock and roll.

Unfortunately one of my life anthems - Bush's "Letting the cables sleep" - has been stolen right from under me, by none other than SA's fixed-line Frankenstein, Telkom.

There I was on Monday, sitting diligently at my laptop hooked up for the Web cast of Telkom's analyst day when all of sudden the haunting introduction of "Letting the cables sleep" began seeping through my earphones.

At first I thought I must have mistakenly pressed the play button on my music player. But no, it was the company facilitating the Web cast introducing some background music for those of us who had logged on early for the big announcements.

It took me seconds to realise that while this particular song holds enormous emotional appeal to me, it probably does have a place as the theme song for Telkom's current position in life.

Of course, if you don't know the song, you may be wondering what I'm on about.

Most obvious is the reference to cables in the title. In fact, it has been used by several telecoms journalists as a headline for articles surrounding such issues.

Less obvious is how the meaning behind the song relates so closely to Telkom's position.

In a 1999 interview with Watch Magazine, Bush lead vocalist Gavin Rossdale revealed the song was written about a friend who had contracted HIV but had remained silent as he struggled with the shame and stigma associated with his diagnosis.

Now don't get me wrong, I am in no way suggesting Telkom - or any of its senior management - has HIV, or Aids for that matter. At the same time, I think most of us would agree that the organisation is very, very ill.

And in a case of reality imitating art, some of the verses of this popular - if melancholic - song aptly describe Telkom's situation.

"You in the dark, you in the pain, you on the run.
Living a hell, living your ghost, living your end.
Never seem to get in the place that I belong...

You in the sea, on a decline, breaking the waves.
Watching the lights go down, letting the cables sleep.
Silence is not the way, we need to talk about it."

Yesterday's briefing did nothing to calm investor fears that Telkom is on the decline, living its end.

By the close of the JSE on Monday, the company's share price had "slipped" just over 10%. Overnight things were only slightly better for Telkom in New York, with a 6% decline.

I think most of us would agree that the organisation is very, very ill.

Kimberly Guest, senior journalist, ITWeb

Nevertheless, analysts are quick to point out that even with Vodacom stripped out of the business, Telkom can still be attractive. The problem with Telkom, they say, is that its strategy and messaging does little to inspire confidence that it is on the right track.

Moreover, Telkom's financials are not showing signs of an upwards swing and so investors need to consider whether it's worth the wait for the company to find the right path.

Having watched the company for some time, I have to agree with these concerns.

I have no idea how Reuben September, Telkom's CEO, is going to convince customers to feel all warm and fuzzy about the company when most still feel it is a blundering bully at best and an economic rapist at worst.

Despite a less than warm reception from analysts, September closed Monday's session by saying the company had seen so many plans, but now wanted to see execution. For the sake of the employees at the company - and let's be frank, all of us who have to rely on Telkom's network - I hope this focus on action will have the desired results.

If not, I'm afraid Telkom's theme tune will be replaced by some morbid country ode to an abusive lover lost forever.

The rest of us will probably be singing Gloria Gaynor's hit "I will survive".

All together now: "Go on now go, walk out the door, don't turn around now, 'cause you're not welcome anymore..."