On a personal thought, I had almost given up the idea of blogging here. At one point of time, it seemed to be going no where.

More than reporting the antics of the telecom companies, it’s indeed unpleasant feeling to try and bring out “corporate types” indulging in lies and counter lies. However, the last word isn’t said as yet and it’s very difficult to bring about a change specially when entrenched interests are powerful monetarily.

In the following posts, I shall be looking at the looming digital divide. I chanced on couple of websites and interesting posts. It takes time to read and choose as to which is most relevant for India.

I hope to stir up some kind of a debate. As usual, your inputs are valuable. If you come across any site, please do mention in the comments.

Is digital divide going to bridge all that is needed for this country? No. But as aspiration levels increase, this divide would surely cause enough unrest. And the new age “casteism”. We are all indeed “blessed”, so to say to have the power of computing at our finger tips.

I would want EVERYONE to have the same access. That’s the intention. Insrumountable problems indeed but it would be worth it to make it happen even if on a small scale.

On the regular telecom scene, I shall mention if anything major happens. Otherwise, it’s the same bunch of actors and buffons on the stage.

I wish you, on behalf of the Techwhack team a very Happy Republic Day. Yes, it does raise a lot of issues about the whole process, the familiar talk of idealism vs corruption; the crumbling edifices et al.

However, there are several aspects to the same.

We can use the system to make the things work if we wish to give it the right direction. Delhi couldn’t have had it’s metro without E Shreedharan; single handedly, he cut the red tape (and crap); and delivered a world class project. Similarly, in the cesspool (and worse) that Bihar is, a person like K J Rao brought in the fear of God in the politicians. As a result, more than fair, these elections were one of the most peaceful ever.

Give the person an accountability; a mandate and a clear head to achieve his/ her targets. Why wouldn’t it happen?

Before I end, I would like you to read a touching blog entry from “Great Bong” on his mother’s visit to Andaman’s Cellular Jail. His grand father was held as a political prisoner there and is a touching account of the tortures his grandfather underwent at the hands of the Brits.

To quote:

Hope. The hope that sustained these men (your grandfather among them) despite floggings, torture and subhuman treatment. The hope that one day things would be different, the hope that their sons and daughters would grow up in a land free from foreign oppression.

I don’t want my nation to fall in the trap again- in the new age version of East India Company. A long haul; I am not alone to make sure that it happens again. Though, I am just vocal about it.

The telecom operators don’t get it, do they?

Coming at the heels of a frustrated customer of Hutch there’s another personal experience with Reliance.

Reliance Info is one of the largest pan India CDMA players. Yet, they don’t gurantee adequate customer service. I had a Reliance handset which I got frozen because I wasn’t using it. True to their style, they sent across a bill for consolidated 4 months. Imagine, during this period, I didn’t even switch it on!

When I had been to the Reliance Web World Express, there is saw frustrated customers with their billing complaints. I did manage to get some insider information- Reliance is facing a major hassle with billing systems. What system they operate on or why they haven’t upgraded it is beyond me. During a half hour interval that I was there, there were atleast 4 disconnections from frustrated customers. 4 disconnections.

I only highlight this so that the real nature of the “telecom boom” is apparent to the world. It beats the common sense to spend such a huge amount in marketing but customers have no choice except to stick on to extremely degraded customer care.

In another blood curdling incident, a long standing customer of Reliance was abused because he dared to correct the Reliance Web World staff. He could have created a mayhem himself but realising his duties as a concerned citizen he sought to complain and put up his complaint online.

Here iswhat he has to say:

I am a customer of Rel. Info. for past 2 years and have 6 landlines and mobiles for past 2 years. Throughout that period I have recommended your services to near and dear ones.

I went there to get my POST PAID mobile connection migrated into “LIFETIME PREPAID”. On expressing my desire I was handed over a form and asked to deposit a sum of 991 Rs. which I did. While filling up the form (and seeing the postpaid-plans) I queried that the form is for LIFE TIME PREPAID, at which the lady exploded. She openly said there is nothing called lifetime prepaid thing for postpaid subscribers.

I told her you have to inform me about it… she started blabbering and made fun of my know-how in front of all customers and staff for 5-10 minutes.

This is what they do to a long standing customer in their outlets. Who would want to get insulted by this kind of a staff? Reliance surely needs to buckle up. Or else, they would get panned out in no time.

I highlighted these two incidents because it makes no sense to keep quiet about them. The Tribune regularly carries out customer complaints against non payment of refunds or illegal dues on the post paid bills. Now if they care to look online too and see for themselves- there is a huge customer base that simply doesn’t have the “delight” of using a mobile telephone. Or even broadband.

I would be glad if any of the Reliance’s official spokesperson clarified. I would carry their version too here.