It was a big long drawn fight against Vodafone Essar India. I have documented this here, here and here. I want to fight for the next level of transparency in the sector because information is not flowing in freely and it is a big hassle to know about the status of the complaints.

I have already documented that each operator needs to file a compliance report with TRAI every quarter including the action taken on the same. I had to push the company to act based on the threats sent as I insisted that they be made public using RTI. It was a “threat” alone which did the trick.

Further, the nodal officer and the appellate authority system doesn’t seem to be working because they are company officials. Even though it is mandated that all complaints be addressed in a time bound manner, it doesn’t happen so. What is the way out?

Department of Telecom is going through it’s own hassles with CBI raids in connection with the huge telecom scam related to auction of spectrum. I don’t foresee anything coming out of it (nor it’s worth reporting here) because it is just political arm twisting. Those officials are useless anyway; in that case, DoT is out of question.

That only leaves us with the option of TRAI and the idea that it needs to be more proactive in enforcing it’s own regulations. This calls for a concerted action against the errant officials because the companies are focused only on customer acquisition and not customer retention. Mobile number portability MIGHT change the service scenario a bit but I am being cynical about it because the exit and the entry barriers would be unfair to customers; unless the ensuing events prove me wrong. The charges for plan migration have yet not been defined; we as customers should demand a “pro-customer” outlook and not whims and fancies of fat cats dictating terms to both Government and Media.

On a happy note, the network coverage in my premises has vastly improved in all areas of building making it a hassle free experience. It took time and effort but it was worth it.

In the process, I learnt about the bad corporate ways too. And recounted it all here

Update (27/10/2009):
I got a call from the Vodafone Network people asking me to send across a mail of “appreciation” for the “good work” that they have done!!

I countered that by asking them to send across the details of their CEO so that I could cc to them as well! Strange kind of assholes indeed!

Tags: Appellate Authority, Assholes, author, CEO, Department of Telecom, DoT, India, Media, Mobile, Mobile Number Portability, Opera, Pathetic vodafone, scam, Screw Vodafone, Spectrum, Telecommunications India, TRAI, Vodafone, vodafone Essar, Vodafone India, Vodafone sucks

This is truly iconic and a landmark act passed in recent times. They have slowly expanded the ambit to include information sought from almost anyone barring a few security sensitive issues.

What does it mean for an ordinary citizen like you and me? It means getting to know your rights and exercising them. I see a vast majority of people posting their negative experience with their telecom operators. Instead of bemoaning about their sorry fate, none of them are interested in pursuing the matter to a logical conclusion to have the matters sorted out.

RTI empowers the common citizen to know the state of affairs behind the closed doors. For example, if you are not getting your promised due of installation of a new telephone connection within stipulated time, then you can file RTI to know the status of your application. This is good enough to put the babu in spot if there is any delay in the implementation of the said order. You can file a RTI application if you are not satisfied about the functioning of your telephone number, know the number of the cell phone calls at the moment when you got disconnected and have it independently verified. You can know the make of the instruments, the technical details of the switching of the telephone calls etc etc.

I don’t guarantee any miracles. You can expect firewalling or even retribution from the said babu. But this should not deter anyone from seeking it. Because, it is your own money in form of taxes, that are being utilized and “misused”.

Further, the ambit of the RTI needs to be expanded on to the private players because as per the license norms, they are following the rules laid down by Department of Telecom and TRAI which are Government bodies and hence public office. The same rules need to be applied to them and Public Information Officers appointed for proper dissemination of information.

Tags: Department of Telecom, Opera, Telecommunications India, TRAI

It’s called as “double barrelled assholism” In other words, those who live in glass houses, should not throw stones at others.

Having said that, Anil Ambani has been taking potshots at his older sibling; this was seen in the full page advertisements that he took out in the newspapers. It even made the headlines for a brief period.

I am not interested to report the doings of two idiots fighting it out. It is perhaps for the first time, the gory details of financial irregularities have been made public; i.e. basically financial wizardry aimed at shortcharging the Government of the day. While you and me would die paying taxes, but the likes of Anil Ambani cause financial irregularities without being caught.

Despite his tall fancy claims, Anil Ambani remains a petty thief but diverting his slush funds in unnamed accounts. One never knows, how many ‘powers that be’ are being bankrolled by him; but for all practical purposes, having one of the worst networks ever encountered, Reliance needs to shut down.

With SEBI breathing down it’s neck, Anil must now be wondering as to why he had stir the hornet’s nest. Those people who ask for public accountability have their own dirty linen to wash.

Anil has heaps of it for sure.

Tags: Advertisement, Anil Ambani, Idiots, India, Reliance, Telecommunications India