Goa BSNL gets mobile aspirations, but subscribers still have 'plaints By Frederick Noronha
PANJIM: Towers are already up for the expected August 15, 2002 launch of the Goa-BSNL's mobile services, and the state-run telecom authority here is promising to launch "India's first integrated call centre". BSNL's Central Goa area manager B.Praveen Kumar said today: "We are still to finalise details. But our rates (for mobile services) will be the most competitive." Speaking during the course of a 'Telecom Adalat', which are now being held again in Goa after a considerable gap, the official said more customer service centres were being planned. This comes in the backdrop of telecom services getting privatised, the state-run earlier monopoly facing competition from private players, and also Goa's surprisingly-impressive own achievements in extending tele-density to a considerable segment of its population. Incidentally, figures presented in Parliament in August 2001 show that Goa has a tele-density of 122.66 per thousand (or 12.2%). This puts it at the second-highest tele-density slot nationwide, after Delhi with 189.72 phones per thousand population. To compare, Goa has 14 times the density of phones per thousand people as does Bihar, or almost two-and-half times Karnataka's. Much of this has probably been due to the consumer demand, in part fuelled due to migration by Goans overseas and the tourism sector here. This state is dotted with small exchanges; in August 2001, there were a total of 110 exchanges. There was a total waiting list of approx 4550 phones across all exchanges in the state. But these achievements of the BSNL -- earlier called Goa Telecom -- do not necessarily mean that phone subscribers are satisfied with service. Phone-users present complained that their caller-ID (identification) facilities don't work for calls coming for some areas. Others present pointed out that telephone wires were sometimes strung over coconut trees in places like Merces at Gaunchembhat. Some complained of faulty instruments. Other said they failed to get the ring from incoming-calls. Meanwhile, users of the new-generation of technology-sensitive Internet services said lines-men failed to comprehend the concept that a crystal-clear phone line -- and not a noisy one -- was needed to log onto the Net. Bank manager M.G. Kamat pointed out that his bill which used to "always be below Rs 500" suddenly jumped to Rs 2000. Officials registered his complaint, but no mistake was admitted. Some officials of the Goa Telecom were targeted with being slow or lackadaisical in attending to problems in fast-growing suburbs like Porvorim. Phone users wanted to know why despite rental rates going up steeply -- from Rs 150 to Rs 360 -- the number of 'free calls' had remained the same. Some questions were also raised on what basis the phone subscribers were being billed, and which areas the BSNL considered 'urban' and 'rural' for the purposes of billing. Phone subscribers wanted to know the procedure for getting a rebate if their phone was unrepaired for more than seven days. (Subscribers need to report it in writing to the SDE officer, who will then recommend a rebate, to be adjusted in subsequent bills, officials say.) Consumers' forum organisations from areas like Soccoro and Merces were present for the meet. Officials welcomed them for regular interactions. Praveen Kumar said that in "most areas" of central Goa, the waiting list had now been practically eradicated. "It (a wait-list for phones) is there in a small area of Taleigao, because the Panjim Municipal Council won't let us dig to lay cables, over a small stretch of about 800 metres, and in areas of Britona," he charged. Goa telephone zones for BSNL are divided into four areas -- central, north, south and eastern. But, currently, the eastern sector does not have an area officer holding independent charge. Other suggestions which came up included ones for the speedy publication of the long-delayed telephone directory (promised by the month-end), increasing the number of coin-collect boxes -- that allow for one-rupee calls -- specially in schools, and the implementation of CorDECT-WiLL technologies to bridge rural and outlying areas in Goa. It was also suggested that officials could notify e-mail subscribers whenever there was a significant problem on the link-up to Mumbai, or major bottlenecks en route. To enhance accountability in the BSNL-Goa, it was mooted that 'lok adalats' be held regularly -- as earlier done -- and these be kept open to all, not just those who had raised their issues. The 'changed numbers service' needed to be kept update and comprehensive, it was suggested. Praveen Kumar asked Central Goa phone subscribers who face persistent delays in getting their complaints attended to to contact him on phone 430095 or via email [EMAIL PROTECTED] (ENDS) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
