Mobile phone useage soars - networks insufficient
Bangkok Post 14th May 2006
"DTAC chief says AIS needs to do more to solve congestion problem, by Srisamorn phoosuphanusorn
As consumer complaints about mobile-phone network congestion rise, second-ranked operator DTAC has urged the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to force market leader AIS to step up work on new network links. DTAC chief executive Sigve Brekke says the high number of AIS customers making calls to other networks has been the main factor behind current problems.
Consumers attracted by rock-bottom tariffs have been making more and longer calls than they normally would. Critics say the cellular companies have only themselves to blame for users' frustrations and complaints, given that some of the price offers don't even cover operators' costs. Mr Brekke said call traffic from AIS numbers to the DTAC had increased by 30-40%, while third-ranked True Move was facing similar traffic from AIS. The successful-connection rates for DTAC customers making calls to AIS, normally at 50%, had fallen to 20-30% during peak evening periods. The rates for AIS customers have also dropped from the normal 50% to 30-40%.
Mr Brekke said DTAC had no problem handling calls within its network, on which utilisation was now 90%. ''We have no problem within our network call traffic. But existing cross-network call problems are resulting in a surge in call attempts made by DTAC users.'' He said AIS had installed only 30 E1 links with DTAC's direct gateways as of mid-April, and nothing since. AIS made a ''gentlemen's agreement'' with DTAC and True Move last week to expand direct links with 750 E1 (circuits) each. The expansion work, at an estimated investment of 100 million baht, is expected to be completed within 90 days.
''Our linking expansion process with AIS has been very slow. Traffic will continuously go up even with or without price wars,'' he said, adding that the problem was more severe than last year when call-completion rates fell to single digits.
''AIS should open its mind ... to help resolve the problem together in the interests of consumers.'' Mr Brekke asked the NTC to accelerate clearing the congestion problem, which he believed would not be eliminated as long as heavy competition persists. But Wichien Mektrakarn, executive vice-president for operations of AIS, insisted that his company, with every intention to co-operate with its rivals, would consider future investment in direct interconnection gateways with smaller operators as needed. However, he said, his company's engineers had agreed that AIS needed to increase cross-network links with DTAC and True Move with 750 E1 circuits. He also warned that congestion could not be addressed in a sustainable manner through direct-link expansion, as long as operators continued their price wars. "
very frustrating today......
It took me more than half an hour to make a call to the USA this evening for Mother's Day.. I tried some local numbers and also network busy..
Really frustrating.. Normally, I have little or no problem and can get thru on first or second try but today was the pits..
