Kohima, Feb. 3: The Prime Minister?s dream of launching mobile services in Nagaland has turned sour with customers fuming over BSNL?s poor connectivity and billing. Mobile phone services were launched in the region by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on October 27.
Moreover, the customer care node machines, which will link the capital and Dimapur with Shillong, are yet to arrive from the supply point, BSNL sources said. They were scheduled to be installed by December 27. The news that the installation may take a few more weeks has left the customers fuming.
?What is the use of all this? Though my handset is not activated, they send me the bill promptly,? said a customer Kevi.
The BSNL authorities are, however, unwilling to admit the problem. ?I don?t know. Our (BSNL staff) mobiles are working,? said general manager P.K. Sarkar. Since its launch in October, the Nagaland telecommunication system has been facing a whole lot of problems.
Several lines were disconnected here this week. ?Wherever I pick up the telephone I find it disconnected. However, I receive the bill without delay,? said a journalist. The new system of disbursing bills through post has created more problems for consumers. Sarkar said the people should take up the matter with the postal department.
The wireless in local loop (WiLL) facility is also under pressure with the BSNL issuing more than its capacity of 500 connections in Kohima because of ?political pressure?.