With Telkom gearing up to enter the cellphone market, Synovate quizzed South Africans on what they thought of the new competition for Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Virgin Mobile.
Synovate interviewed metropolitan South Africans from the age of 16 and older on Telkom's anticipated entrance into the cellphone market, says client services director, Andries Lombaard. Respondents were interviewed face-to-face in the metropolitan areas of Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town.
According to the market research firm's findings, half of those interviewed indicated they were likely to purchase a Telkom SIM in the future.
Synovate says 68% believe there is sufficient space for another mobile operator to enter the market. According to the survey, 71% say Telkom has the infrastructure, and 68% believe they have sufficient sales and distribution channels to sell their products.
The company adds that 77% agreed Telkom's offering would have to be unique for them to change from their current service provider. This sentiment was most pronounced in Pretoria (90%) and Cape Town (88%).
At its interim results presentation last year, Telkom said it's planning to penetrate the mobile market as part of its renewed business strategy. The company revealed it will invest R6 billion over the next five years to get its mobile business up and running.
Telkom believes there is room in the market for a fourth mobile player, as the mobile penetration rate per person is not exhausted in SA.
“It is encouraging to see that South Africans are always open and receptive to new entrants,” states Lombaard.
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