Poor network coverage irks ZCCI

Alleging that Zunheboto has become “victim of inconsistent network and data connectivity since past a decade”, ZCCI president Shikahoto Jakha and convenor media cell, K K Sümi in a press statement urged upon Northeast Telecom Circle, Shillong Meghalaya to address the issue “for the sake of thousands subscribers in Zunheboto district within a month’s time”.

They claimed that apart from data connectivity, even the voicecall and SMS/text messaging services have been down and inconsistent and sometime blackout for days and weeks.

ZCCI said that the first private network providers in Zunheboto — Reliance India Limited and Aircel- launched in mid-2000s have shutdown offices and outlets, adding to inconveniences and woes to thousands of poor subscribers.

Idea Cellular services and its offices established in Zunheboto for some months in late-2000s, has also been shut down, “the reasons best known to them”. Bharati Airtel office and retailer are functional but the procurements of ‘Black Simcards’ in the market had resulted to overloaded in networking traffic which obstructed smooth services, said ZCCI. 

It has therefore, urged police to investigate illegal outlets distributing “black simcards”.  ZCCI further said that the oldest state owned BSNL/CellOne network provider was the worst. 

ZCCI also alleged that illegal outlets and pan-shops were charging an amount ranging from Rs. 5- 16 extra over the retail prices on each recharge voucher. 

“Since, BSNL/CellOne mobile numbers are linked to our banking and other official purposes, we have no other options but pay the bills or recharge it keep it active; as per the new latest banking policies, especially SBI we can’t change the specimen’s phone numbers”, said ZCCI.

Further, ZCCI claimed that Reliance and BSNL/CellOne recharge card and other recharges were hardly available in vouchers and were done through e-recharges at higher rates.