WINDOW — By Salem al Jawhary — A number of readers have rang me up to express their worries over phone call cut-offs that I experienced quite frequently. Some of the callers were friends and acquaintances, yet others were unknown to me, all of them had one thing in common; they all experienced call cut-offs. The same scenario was repeated as one of them was recounting his trouble to me on the phone. He redialed and said: “See this is how it happens”
Understandably, all subscribers are looking forward to better mobile phone services as long as it is a paid service. Officials in both mobile phone companies have to do all in their power to improve the services rendered to their subscribers, and to ensure that the mobile phone signals are reaching everywhere.
Another complaint was that the Internet is not easily accessible in most governorates excluding Muscat. Needless to say in these governorates there are large numbers of students, researchers and businessmen who need to access the Internet on a regular basis for education and business purposes.
I discussed these observations with Dr Amir al Rawas, CEO Omantel, at a meeting held at Millennium Hotel Musana earlier this year. The CEO said they already had knowledge of what the problem was and that the default was due to delay in operating the 4th generation of cellular phones, and a similar delay in launching broadband Internet services in accordance with the specifications of the Communication Regulatory Authority.
The CEO’s argument during that meeting was quite logical. He mentioned the high cost of installing networks due to the Sultanate’s tough terrain unlike other neighbouring countries, however the subscribers here enjoy lower call rates as independent studies showed. Consequently, the demand on mobile phone and Internet has risen. These glowing studies are an added honour and a new feather in the cap of the telecommunication companies in Oman, but they have to strive to reach out to every remote area in the country.
Telecommunications in the world of today requires technical preparedness, investing large capitals and keeping pace with the latest developments in the ever-changing technological world. The successive trends of cutting-edge technologies that emerge regularly impose fresh challenges to users and operators alike. Operators in particular have to train their employees and workers and get them familiarised with the new systems that come out of the production line so that they can provide quality services to their customers who in turn have to be abreast about the use of such advanced technology.
However, for the time being we need urgent solutions which can ensure better services for the customers of telecommunication companies so that they can enjoy fast and easily accessible Internet and uninterrupted phone calls.
Finding solutions to such shortcomings is not the task for a single entity.
The many parties concerned with this problem have to join force towards finding the root solution that brings the subscribers’ woes to a close.
May be it is time to hasten the steps to set up a more effective mobile phone networks that would buttress the development process while at the same time provide world-class services at a concession.
