=> LAHORE, Dec 24: The cell-phone users exchanged ove
LAHORE, Dec 24: The cell-phone users exchanged over 1.2 billion short messages on Eidul Azha.
A Telecom source told Dawn on Monday that the cell-phone users, whose number had touched 73 million, exchanged over 1.2 billion short massages to greet their dear ones during the Eid holidays. Besides, they also made over 10 million calls (from cell phone to cell phone) during these days.
While various cellular companies made quick bucks during the Eid days, the subscribers faced problems in sending SMS and call connectivity. They also complained of call drop and busy network.
On reasons for the glitches suffered by most of the subscribers, sources said some cellular phone companies had reduced their call and SMS rates without upgrading their systems accordingly. The cell phone connections had been given against landline and the ideal ratio between the former and the latter should be 10 to one, they said. “The cellular phone companies have given 15 to 20 connections against each line,” the sources said, and added that overburdened system was responsible for service disruption.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, in its latest countrywide quality of service (QoS) survey, had focused the call completion ratio and call connectivity of the service providers. It gauged them through automated monitoring equipment with a benchmark for ‘required standard’ not less than 96 per cent.
The survey shows the service of major cellular companies in Lahore and some other parts of the country is not up to the standard set by the regulator with regard to dropped calls. Mobilink remained on top in call completion ratio category with an average of 97.50 per cent, while in connectivity of cellular service Telenor achieved the better average (96.81 per cent).
Interestingly, the PTA in its first survey had imposed heavy fine on Mobilink for providing poor quality of service to its subscribers. The regulator has yet to announce measures it would take against the companies for failing to improve their service on the basis of fresh survey.
The telecom companies have invested over US$8 billion during the last four years in Pakistan, particularly in the mobile sector, whose investment share accounts 73 per cent.
Source: Dawn
Date:12/25/2007
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