As we all know that incompetent leadership, corruption, mismanagement, and moral decadence are some of the causes for Africa continental failure, the shoddy services provided by the telecom companies in Tanzania under the noses of TCRA have just reminded me of the long road ahead to success . I posted similar comments on one of the threads on this forum but very few people seem to have captured it, let alone comment on it. This disappointed me a bit becuase most us on this platform, if not all, use the telecom services on either the internet or the phone but are so comfortable with the poor services we receive to the extent that we've become numb to its effects.
Let me explain. In my experience, when a telecom company applies for a license to provide telecom services such as telephone, internet, mobile banking, text messaging, etc. it must prove to the government authorities (TCRA) that it has what it takes to deliver the envisaged services, such as ability to provide reliable coverage in the areas applied for, technical competence, ability to use the available and emerging technologies, maintain pricing agreement, and many other criteria. Once the license is issued the role of the goverment authority (TCRA), among other things, is to monitor the licensed telecom company to see if it lives up to the licensing requirements.
Now, check this: in Tanzania it's very common to hear a telecom company such as Vodacom, Tigo, Airtel, etc offer service coverage in the whole country, meaning there is no 'geographical location' in Tanzania where their service would be unavailable. This is a claim that is often authenticated by TCRA and published in the telecom company's working maps and related documents. What you get on the ground, however, is totally different: poor or unavailable connection in most areas, especially in remote villlages, frequent internet disconnections or periodic cut offs, undelivered or delayed text messages, poor customer service in almost all networks, low resolution rate when in an urgent situation, uncontrolled advertisement through bulk SMS, and the list goes on.
All these happen under TCRA clear watch. Dr. Nkoma and his entourage are blissfully enjoying their hefty pay, unending foreign trips, and good handshakes from the telecom executives. When you ask why this is so you get the all so common and simplistic answers: "mitandao yote duniani ina matatizo hayo hayo" What?? Mitandao ya dunia gani? These TCRA guys know very well that you can't experience this rubbish service even in our African neighbors such as SA, let alone the developed world. They also know that it's wrong for a telecom company to claim to have coverage capability in certain area and still fail to live up to the promise. Coverage should mean "full and easy connection or availability of service at all the time except in times of emergency" TRCA has allowed service providers in this country to enjoy maximum profit at the customer's expense. And when it comes down to the wire service providers in Tanzania have an explanation for every poor service they offer. You'll hear things like; "umeme ulikatika ndio maana internet yako haishiki" or "eneo ulipo ni kawaida kabisa simu kukatika katika" or worse still; "ndio hali ya mtandao wetu ilivyo hakuna tunachoweza kufanya" How pathetic! What happened to Fibre Optic line which was intended to speed up the internet? Why are internet connects getting even worse as more people get on the IT bandwagon? What are the many towers across the doing to improve call connectivity? What is January Makamba, the seemingly sharp and well exposed guy, doing?
My take: TRCA is cozily in bed with the telecom companies. I think TCRA exists only to look after the interests of the corporate bullies and not for the poor consumers. Yes, we pay for their offices, the furniture, the air conditions, the refreshments, luxury cars, and yes, the foreign trips, the many seminars, and the lucrative salaries. We do all these just to keep them working for the telecom companies and special interests. And no one is standing up to them, not even us at Mabadiliko. At least I'm rolling the ball. Will anyone join me?
Let me explain. In my experience, when a telecom company applies for a license to provide telecom services such as telephone, internet, mobile banking, text messaging, etc. it must prove to the government authorities (TCRA) that it has what it takes to deliver the envisaged services, such as ability to provide reliable coverage in the areas applied for, technical competence, ability to use the available and emerging technologies, maintain pricing agreement, and many other criteria. Once the license is issued the role of the goverment authority (TCRA), among other things, is to monitor the licensed telecom company to see if it lives up to the licensing requirements.
Now, check this: in Tanzania it's very common to hear a telecom company such as Vodacom, Tigo, Airtel, etc offer service coverage in the whole country, meaning there is no 'geographical location' in Tanzania where their service would be unavailable. This is a claim that is often authenticated by TCRA and published in the telecom company's working maps and related documents. What you get on the ground, however, is totally different: poor or unavailable connection in most areas, especially in remote villlages, frequent internet disconnections or periodic cut offs, undelivered or delayed text messages, poor customer service in almost all networks, low resolution rate when in an urgent situation, uncontrolled advertisement through bulk SMS, and the list goes on.
All these happen under TCRA clear watch. Dr. Nkoma and his entourage are blissfully enjoying their hefty pay, unending foreign trips, and good handshakes from the telecom executives. When you ask why this is so you get the all so common and simplistic answers: "mitandao yote duniani ina matatizo hayo hayo" What?? Mitandao ya dunia gani? These TCRA guys know very well that you can't experience this rubbish service even in our African neighbors such as SA, let alone the developed world. They also know that it's wrong for a telecom company to claim to have coverage capability in certain area and still fail to live up to the promise. Coverage should mean "full and easy connection or availability of service at all the time except in times of emergency" TRCA has allowed service providers in this country to enjoy maximum profit at the customer's expense. And when it comes down to the wire service providers in Tanzania have an explanation for every poor service they offer. You'll hear things like; "umeme ulikatika ndio maana internet yako haishiki" or "eneo ulipo ni kawaida kabisa simu kukatika katika" or worse still; "ndio hali ya mtandao wetu ilivyo hakuna tunachoweza kufanya" How pathetic! What happened to Fibre Optic line which was intended to speed up the internet? Why are internet connects getting even worse as more people get on the IT bandwagon? What are the many towers across the doing to improve call connectivity? What is January Makamba, the seemingly sharp and well exposed guy, doing?
My take: TRCA is cozily in bed with the telecom companies. I think TCRA exists only to look after the interests of the corporate bullies and not for the poor consumers. Yes, we pay for their offices, the furniture, the air conditions, the refreshments, luxury cars, and yes, the foreign trips, the many seminars, and the lucrative salaries. We do all these just to keep them working for the telecom companies and special interests. And no one is standing up to them, not even us at Mabadiliko. At least I'm rolling the ball. Will anyone join me?
Source : Mabadiliko Forum
