[Assam] Poor telecom services in Dhemaji district resented (The Assam Tribune, 03.03.2007)

[Buljit Buragohain]

                Poor telecom services in Dhemaji district resented
>From Our Correspondent
 DHEMAJI, March 2 – Telecom services have developed by leaps and bounds all over the country over the last few years. The presence of private players has made the scene more competitive. But the telecommunication scenario in Dhemaji district has not changed much. Private players have offered mobile phone services in the district, still BSNL has remained the single biggest service provider here. But Dhemaji BSNL is unable to meet the expectations and faith of customers here.

The mobile network of BSNL get disrupted several times in a month for two to three days putting the consumers in a most inconvenient situation. After the introduction of mobile services, some consumers gave up land line connections, but those who retained are getting a row treatment. Land line telephone complaints are not given importance by the department. As a result many land line connections have remained out of order. And no new land line connections have been given since several months in Dhemaji.

Facing competition from private players, BSNL has introduced many new schemes, which if implemented properly will benefit the consumers and increase the revenue of BSNL. For example BSNL’s Tezpur Telecom District has introduced bfone internet service and consumers are informed through newspaper advertisements. But when a consumer goes to BSNL office for bfone connection he is told that without Broadband internet facility bfone connection can not be given. And there is no broadband internet facility in Dhemaji-Lakhimpur districts. The available internet facility is also very poor in the district which comes at 10-30 kpbs and gets disconnected frequently.

Lack of toll free facility is another very big hurdle for the people of the district. Generally it is seen that the commercial establishments or government offices give their internet address along with toll-free telephone numbers. As in Dhemaji there is no proper internet service or toll-free facility. The people are deprived from many opportunities.

The PCOs of the district are also receiving inflated telephone charges from customers. The BSNL has slashed call rates several times in post years. But the PCO owners of the district do not adjust their machines accordingly. As a result a customer end paying at the same old rate.

It is learnt that the department is understaffed at Dhemaji for which proper functioning has been affected. Therefore, the people of Dhemaji demand the BSNL authorities to provide adequate and experienced staff in the district, to improve the quality of service, introduce new facilities including broadband internet service, keep and increase landline telephone services so that the consumers of the district can enjoy the facilities against playing their bills.
   
  The Assam Tribune,03.03.2007
            
























     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


 				
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