Problems with cellphone calls explained

[grok]

People seem to think the networks are just trying to pass the buck when trying to explain why there are failures. There's a big difference between explaining and not taking responsibility.

Why then does it take such a public outcry & even Isaca hearings before any providers step up? It's extremely frustrating to know for a fact that there's problems but to be told there isn't. You sometimes treat us like whiney little kids.

Take Idols. Everyone knew there were problems though every provider denied that the fault was with them. Maybe it wasn't, but it had to be with someone for sure. I call that passing the buck, don't you? I'm not an Idols fan so wasn't really affected, except for now believing Multichoice has a somewhat lighweight ISP that lies about problems on their networks. That's how perceptions work.

Nobody expects you to never have problems, but we do expect you to be open about it and not turn it into such a circus. We know it's tough, but then so's our jobs. My project manager doesn't care about the 3 hours downtime I had last night, he only cares about me delivering what I'd said I'd deliver. I could possibly negotiate an extention based on your lack of service, but only if you back me up by being open about it. Also, I'm not all that interested in exactly what went wrong, just acknowledge problems quickly and get it fixed asap so I can continue with what I have to do.

Also you aren't cheap. I know I pay a premium for the mobility etc. but with an expensive service I expect better service. That's just how it is. With the kind of money the providers make I rather think you're the whiney little kids.

 

[Basilrsa]

Good News

Well at last something is being done to assist the consumer to get what he paid for. Their payment was of the right kind and value and in return they only expected what they paid for, and no less.

I realize all the companies concerned with the problem must share the blame and immediately take steps to rectify the mess.
Perceptions are a reality of life, and the only way to wipe out the poor perceptions of the disgruntled consumers, is to give them what they paid for, continously.
On the data side did MTN customers experience the same poor quality that Vodacom customers had since the beginning of May?
A thing that still bothers me is why the Telkom 3G data service did not fall down!
Maybe the networks involved should provide their affected customers with some form of temporary compensation. viz. a bonus 500mb data bundle

 

[Sting]

"A thing that still bothers me is why the Telkom 3G data service did not fall down!"

Because it is outsourced to a Chinese company???? (Huawei)

 

[vodacom3g]

Why then does it take such a public outcry & even Isaca hearings before any providers step up? It's extremely frustrating to know for a fact that there's problems but to be told there isn't. You sometimes treat us like whiney little kids.

Obviously, I can only speak for Vodacom and we've been saying all along it's business as normal on the Vodacom network, i.e. it's as good (or bad) as it's been for the past period.

So we're also asking why the sudden public outcry and the ICASA hearing. Looking at the events over the last few weeks, one can understand how a number of different and only loosely-connected events got us to this point. And maybe it's not a bad thing that a critical look is taken every now and then.

Take Idols. Everyone knew there were problems though every provider denied that the fault was with them. Maybe it wasn't, but it had to be with someone for sure. I call that passing the buck, don't you? I'm not an Idols fan so wasn't really affected, except for now believing Multichoice has a somewhat lighweight ISP that lies about problems on their networks. That's how perceptions work.

On the one had you say we should not pass the buck and on the other hand when we just state (correctly) it's not us, we should have fingered the other party?

Rather, it was up to them to come out with the facts. Which they did.

Nobody expects you to never have problems, but we do expect you to be open about it and not turn it into such a circus.

Who is turning it into a circus? The networks? Nope, don't think so.

 

[Shaun]

Havent had one issue with Vodacom!

Idols is a load of rot! So lets not worry about that....

 

[Tns]

customers don't care about the problems they want them fixed like right now!

 

[diabolus]

To the question "Who must take responsibility for the network failures" there can only be one answer: The networks. No-one needs a poll for that.

BUT the question as to what are the biggest causes of network failures is a different matter and on this list transmission and power tops the list by far with transmission accounting for more than half and power half of that again.

I think a bigger concern from a government perspective is things like next year's soccer world cup. Even if we KNOW who's fault it is , who's gonna kick them into shape ensuring our country doesn't look like idiots AND have a complete communication blackout? Imagine a bunch of tourists pitching up here all buying prepaid MTN/Vodacom sims and bam entire network blackout in the middle of the world cup ?

Putting a poll up as to the CAUSE of the network failures would be pure speculation from us. The networks should actually know this better than us . A more sensible poll would be "What KIND OF Network Failure are you experiencing [multi select] : [a] dropped calls bad reception [c] sms delays [d] etc etc "


So while network company's are ultimately responsible for their own networks, we all know they're still -private- businesses with the typical "we'll fix it when we get to it" attitude. ICASA obviously does not seem capable to do anything about, and what CAN they do? Fine them ?

EDIT: Actually, there is one thing ICASA can do. Simply publish a public report stating compliance/efficiency/stability of each network. Commercially this will certainly "encourage" operators to perform otherwise they WILL lose business based on being rated as inferior to another network. Surely these statistics MUST be ICASA's job to accumulate? Things like "contention ratio per area" , if i know MTN is over-extended in my area, i will not sign a contract with them, unfortunately we're all flying blind here!

I sure as heck know if i'm in Germany with my T-Mobile sim and i have dropped calls, delayed sms's and bad reception in the middle of Berlin as a tourist, i sure as hell will be disgusted.

 

[Snekko]

Blame Everyone & Everything, Funny Stuff.......Throwing a Cellular Curve Ball.....This Should Buy Us Some Time Muhahahahah...........

Cell C has always been below the radar in the signal/service quality IMO.....

 

[ngwenyas]

Blame Everyone & Everything, Funny Stuff.......Throwing a Cellular Curve Ball.....This Should Buy Us Some Time Muhahahahah...........

Cell C has always been below the radar in the signal/service quality IMO.....

Screw drops calls and delayed sms's,just fix broadband.I have been having difficulties today due to 'some power failure' in Midrand. it is rather annoying.

 

[vodacom3g]

Screw drops calls and delayed sms's,just fix broadband.I have been having difficulties today due to 'some power failure' in Midrand. it is rather annoying.

Won't you update your location field?

Everyone else posting in the VC sub-forum, as well please. Seeing where you are helps a great deal when you post about some problem.

I know Skeptik used to argue that we can trace you via your posts alone, but it's (unfortunately) not true. And instead of having to include it in every post, it's much easier if it displays in your location field.

 

[Netguy]

Genuine fake cellphones

Had a case where one handset brought a tower down.......

Any suggestions where & how to report a Jhb importer/distributor of illegal Chinese cellphones being sold in Gauteng and Mapumalanga?