Fighting within the SNO has meant it has now moved beyond the realm of the ridiculous, past that of absurdity, and clear of ludicrous, to descend, instead, into farce.

Last week saw the news that the ongoing second national operator process will likely be delayed once again.

The IT imperative of doing more with less appears to be driving market competition to new heights, but if you listen carefully, the battle cries all have something in common.

I`m disappointed with 20Twenty`s rebound advertising campaign, which I think has lost the plot somewhat, but not in the way others suggest.

A great technological thinker speaks out on the synergies that can be achieved between computers and machines.

Last week saw the multinationals agreement in principle and the setting up of a committee to identify the issues and challenges surrounding the equity shareholding requirements in the ICT empowerment charter.

Journalists` work can seem admirable. But beneath the polished words often lurk a brittle ego, scandalous prejudice, appalling hypocrisy or plain pretentiousness.

Although Vodacom claims its exit from Nigeria was due to "breach of trust", one has to ask whether EWI`s various court cases played a role in its sudden withdrawal.

I was recently given reason to eat my words about the municipality, which has in fact, turned around its billing system and customer services, despite my conviction to the contrary.

Last week saw Vodacom withdraw its management contract with Vee Networks and the communications minister grant four underserviced area licences.

Vodacom is proud of the uptake of its new Look4me service. But I`m not convinced that 40 000 subscribers represent a huge success story.

Last week saw Iocore sell-off its SAP and Oracle divisions, and Deutsche Telekom`s $2.5 billion mobile network deal in the US.

For all the mileage SA gets from its political victories, we remain, in the words of Douglas Adams, "mostly harmless".