Uh oh...
To add to the latest string of problems with Telecom’s network, users from around the country have reported various issues ranging from mobile data, SMS, voice to entire connectvity. Not all users are affected but the issues seem to be nationwide.
Click here to view the latest.
The problems seem to have started early today, with a friend of mine reporting mobile data issues from Auckland.
In response to the flurry of social network criticism, Telecom have posted on their twitter that they are investigating the issues and will update when there are any developments. These sort of tweets seem to becoming quite frequent.
Ironically, earlier today, Alcatel-Lucent (the company which deployed the XT network) announced a new head of operations for New Zealand after the current position holder, Steve Lowe, decided to leave the company. Jyoti Mahurkar-Thombre will become the new head, effective on the 8th of March.
Lack of coverage and other various connectivity issues have been confirmed in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Palmerston North and Auckland.
6.15am: All sites restored
Telecom advises that services have been restored to all cell sites that were affected by yesterday’s outage on the XT network from Taupo southwards.
The network remains under close observation.
Telecom also announced that chief executive officer, Paul Reynolds, will host a briefing on XT in Auckland on Tuesday afternoon, 23 February.
Full details on timing and location will be confirmed later this morning.
12.46pm: The media briefing will be held in Auckland at 3pm. We will be keeping you updated with the latest information as soon as we get it. You will be able to watch the conference live via TVNZ.
Latest: In a media briefing today, Paul Reynolds has apologised for breaking his promises to customers regarding the quality of Telecom’s XT network. He said that there was no denying the poor service they have delivered, far below the standard they desire. He went on to go over when the 4 confirmed outages have been and detailed information about what exactly went wrong. Two of the outages were caused by operational processes, all four being based at the Christchurch RNC. He says there has been a major overhaul of operational management involved with XT, and has contacted Alcatel-Lucent personally, asking them to deliver Telecom the network they desire.
Alcatel-Lucent have taken responsibility for fixing the network. A question put to Paul by the floor revealed that they will be footing the bills for any problems that need remedied within the network.
When asked if another RNC should be added to Christchurch, Paul replied saying that the current RNC is operating far below it’s limits and that the problem must lie elsewhere.
As far as compensation, Telecom is fixated on fixing the network as a first priority. Contractual matters with Alcatel-Lucent will be reviewed at a later date.
Over the next 3 months, loyal customers (both consumer and business) south of Taupo will receive the following benefits:
Consumers
Customers on-account will save 33% on their monthly bill and prepaid customers will gain 33% of a Topup in bonus credit (eg. a $20 topup: $6.60 (33%) will be added to the $20, in addition to the normal $5 bonus credit. The $20 topup will become $31.60).Businesses and Corporate
Loyalty credit will amount to 50% of their plan charges.
All up, these benefits will cost Telecom $10 million.
Full details from the briefing can be found here: http://www.telecom.co.nz/help/content/0,8751,206449-204494,00.html
Are you experiencing problems with XT coverage? Let us know below in the comments.
Yup can confirm calls are failing for me in Christchurch. Not good.
(Steve has made 645 comments)
Problems in New Plymouth too, full service, however calls fail and no data.
(aGoodKeenMan has made 7 comments)
I was just able to place a call successfully for the first time this evening, however the next one failed again
(Steve has made 645 comments)
Still No Service here in Dunedin. Might just be my tower though as a friend can get coverage elsewhere in the city.
No calls or SMS service in Dunedin city!!
(salilelias has made 11 comments)
in all honesty i have had no problems with my xt coverage and i have both 3g and 3gs model and my xt 3g has been working fine in blenheim with problems but on the other hand my 3gs with voda sim now that keeps dropping all over the show
(Xt3rminater has made 29 comments)
Data seems fine for me, but calls failing.
(Dan has made 610 comments)
I have full service in Dunedin, halfway bush.
(Plamsaglows has made 52 comments)
Haha, the general media are only just catching onto the fact that Alcatel-Lucent’s boss resigned ~yesterday.
Not 1 single issue here in the Norrh side of Auckland. Fingers crossed it stays that way.
(kara has made 4 comments)
A $60 credit becomes $100 for people south of Taupo. A warning, however, if you don’t topup for 6 months (maybe because you stockpiled credit
), your SIM will expire and credit will be lost. Be careful!
Mak. WTF is that data thing next to the time in the screen shot? Please don't tell me it's another 3gs only feature!
(Plamsaglows has made 52 comments)
That's my available RAM. Works on all iPhone OS devices that can be jailbroken. Can't say much more than that here
.
@ Mak:
oh that’s all good. I thought it may be showing you how much data you had used since last useage reset.
Because that would be awesome.
(Plamsaglows has made 52 comments)