Dropped calls: MCMC issues 28 compounds to major telcos Read more: Dropped calls: MCMC issues 28 compounds to major telcos
12 May 2014, New Straits Times
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has issued 28 compounds totaling RM1.2 million, to major telcos in relation to dropped calls.
The compounds were issued to Maxis, Celcom, DiGi and U Mobile after MCMC conducted the Extensive End-Point Service Availability Testing (Eesat) nationwide in the third quarter (Q3) of last year.
In a statement issued by MCMC today, its chairman, Datuk Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi said the regulatory body viewed complaints about telcos very seriously, especially over failure to deliver to consumers, the service they claimed to offer.
However, he said, any action taken against them must comply with the due process under the law.
"We stepped up Eesat in 2013 due to the numerous complaints and reports received from the public, non-governmental organisations and media regarding dropped calls early last year," he noted.
The Eesat is done periodically. In Q3 last year, a total of 120 compliance measurements were conducted in various locations nationwide.
Compounds were served to telcos that showed more than three per cent dropped call rates as stipulated in the Mandatory Standards for Quality of Service.
The testing done in Q3 last year indicated that Maxis had the highest dropped call rate of 8.16 per cent in Pendang, Kedah.
DiGi came second and third with eight per cent and 7.78 per cent dropped call rates in Laluan Jalan Utama from Tuaran to Kudat and Laluan Jalan Utama from Membakut to Keningau, respectively.
Celcom Axiata Berhad was served seven separate compounds totaling RM310,000, DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd received 11 separate compounds totaling RM480,000, Maxis Mobile Services Sdn Bhd had nine separate compounds amounting to RM360,000 and U Mobile Sdn Bhd was issued one compound of RM50,000.
In terms of complaints relating to dropped calls, MCMC observed that there had been a reduction of 33.3 per cent in Q1 (Jan-March) 2014, as compared to Q3 2013.
All telcos showed a reduction of complaints on dropped calls, except for Maxis which doubled theirs.
DiGi on the other hand managed to reduce dropped call complaints by 89 per cent during the said period.
Mohamed Sharil in the statement said that MCMC met with the telcos’ chief executive officers and asked them to put more effort in improving the quality of service within a certain period of time.
"MCMC made it clear that it will not hesitate to take stern action against the telcos if they failed to comply,” he added.
Mohamed Sharil said it might be timely to start exploring on a star-rating system for telcos so that consumers might make an informed choice about the best service provider for them.
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