Cell Phone Networks Choke, Heavy SMS TRAFFIC On EID
With a day to go before Eid-ul-Azha, mobile telecommunication SMS (Short Message Services) and voice networks have started to choke, despite telecom companies claims of having taken ‘special measures’ to prevent congestions. The ‘special measures’ include slashing of SMS packages, or in certain cases cancelling them altogether. The same strategy was adopted by a couple of telecom companies back at the Eid-ul-Fitr. And now some other companies have also gone for the option of cancelling their SMS packages.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has directed all cellular mobile operators of Pakistan to ensure quality of their services on the Eid and other such occasions, to inform their subscribers adequately about the withdrawal of any packages and bundle offers prior to their suspension. The directions were issued in a meeting with all mobile operators, held at PTA Headquarters.
The operators were asked to ensure the inclusion of adequate information in media campaign with regard to validity period of the SMS bundle package offer along with operator’s discretion to withdraw the said offer. The operators were directed to intimate the Authority well in advance whether or not the SMS bundle package had been withdrawn during the occasions such as Eids/New years etc. the operators would also ensure the provision of quality services to their subscribers during the period of upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. It may be mentioned that value-added services offered by mobile operators such as SMS are un-regulated services in terms of pricing and validity. Further, the bundled packages are optional services offered by the operators which require consumers to opt-in and agreeing to the terms and conditions offered by the operators.
Since SMS bundle packages are not mandatory packages, the PTA is only regulating quality of services whereby the operators are required to conform to the quality parameters as per the license terms and conditions. A large number of people send SMS from their cell phones to greet their family and friends on Eid. The SMS flux reaches its max on Chand Raat and, according to telecom engineers, over 80% of the total mobile using population floods the network simultaneously on the Raat whereas, on a normal day, the total simultaneous users are 20 to 40%.
Most of the mobile-users consider SMS as a very inexpensive method of communication, saying they can express their feelings in only 160 characters within seconds. They say the SMS, like e-mail, can also be reviewed or stored in phone for as long as you wish. One can also forward SMSs to an individual or a group of people just by pressing a single button. If, on the one hands, the SMS is used as a tool to greet each other at different occasions, on the other hand, it has also become a medius of expression for those who link such events with the prevailing economic and political circumstances in form of an amusing satire. The rocketing inflation is the main theme of majority of SMSs on this Eid as people find it hard to afford a sacrificial animal.
The most common SMSs circulating are like this, “I am sending you a Bakra in this SMS so that you may not find an excuse for not sending me my share.”
The youth are more into sending and forwarding SMSs to their friends and relatives. They also use SMSs to inform one another regarding the latest updates as well as their plans of Eid. Political and religious parties have also started using SMS to communicate with masses. Likewise, various charity organizations are also sending SMSs to the masses asking for Zakat and donations on Eid.
A large number of people also received EID greetings from unknown numbers saying that the greetings had been sent by Mian Nawaz Sharif and Mian Shahbaz Sharif. One such message reads, “I wish a very happy Eid to my countrymen..Mian Nawaz Sharif.”
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