The Hindu : New Delhi News : MTNL mobile users facing connectivity problems

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Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008
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MTNL mobile users facing connectivity problems

Sandeep Joshi

Lakhs hit as “mission critical” equipment not upgraded

MTNL mobile users can neither receive nor make calls in the morning and evening
MPs criticise government-owned telecom companies and inconvenience they are causing

NEW DELHI: Failure on the part of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited to upgrade its “mission critical” equipment on time is causing problems of connectivity to lakhs of its mobile subscribers in the Capital. The situation has been so grave for the past one month that during morning and evening hours MTNL mobile users can neither receive nor make calls.

Compared to its competitors from the private sector, MTNL which covers Delhi and the satellite townships of Noida, Gurgaon, Faridabad and Ghaziabad has failed miserably over the years to upgrade its network so that its over 15-lakh subscribers could get better connectivity and seamless coverage of the entire Delhi telecom circle. No wonder despite its competitive tariff structures a large number of mobile users still prefer private telecom operators who constitute more than 75 per cent of the total subscriber base of 1-crore plus in Delhi.

Significantly, the matter even figured in Parliament last week when MPs complained of poor connectivity in the Capital. It is not just MPs who have been issued MTNL connections; government officials also have MTNL connections officially issued to them. “Our work is also getting affected due to poor connectivity as we cannot remain in touch with our offices during the day,” said a senior government official in the Parliament House complex.

Raising the matter in the Lok Sabha last week, MPs urged the Government to find out why the State-run telecom companies are unable to compete with the private operators. Other MPs criticised the government-owned telecom companies and the inconvenience they are causing to people.

Outside Parliament, a media professional, Kavita, said she had been facing the problem of connectivity since February: she is neither able to receive nor make calls during the day.

“The situation is really bad between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. when my mobile becomes useless. And when you call up MTNL’s call centre, their executives say it is a temporary problem or completely deny having received similar complaints from other subscribers,” she added.

When contacted, MTNL (Delhi) Chief General Manager (Mobile Services) A.K. Bhargava accepted that MTNL subscribers both in Delhi and its adjoining townships had been facing connectivity problems for weeks.

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