N00bilink

Aray! Mobilink is burning... its hot... bewares bixches!

If you were in Islamabad (or in Northern Pakistan), chances are that Mobilink has gone all the famous "MaybeLink" on you. Apparently, there was a fire at the Mobilink databank at I-10 in Islamabad which kinda killed the network for all of the Northern Part of the country. Some blogs are telling that the network throughout the country is affected and they are reporting it as a second incident in this month.

During the past decade of of service, there has been a number of times when "Pakistan's favorite cellular company" turned unfavorite in seconds. Somewhere in 2002, I even remember them that under a Court ruling, they had to compensate their subscribers for incompetent service. Overcrowding and overcharging has been a practice of this company in the past as well. Furthermore, it is the same company which promises a "treasure chest" in their ongoing SMS-based promotion (for the 5th time).

Now everyone might be thinking where I am going with this. Well, all I am trying to say that if they claim to be Pakistan's largest network with around 31% market share then how come they have centralized their operations so inefficiently. A country like Pakistan which is always on alert for a terrorist attack, shouldn't they try to create smaller data-banks as well. I have heard that they are trying to do shift the load to an alternative but shouldn't it be wiser if they create smaller networks too. Not only their cellular services but DSL services by their subsidiary LINKdotNET are also disturbed. Furthermore, their Facebook and Twitter (they use "Simply Mobilink" for no reason specific) pages sent the update (in a "sort of, wateva" manner) six hours later. Apna hai, #orly?

Furthermore, whats PTA doing about this.

I thought PTA was the only efficient governmental body in Pakistan, but I guess I was wrong. As a regulator, they could have played an important part. They could have issued directives about how to manage data and how to facilitate consumers. PTA does a fine job at complaints end but what about being pro-active. Something is not happening there.

And you wish it stopped there. With fire, comes smoke and rumors; similar is the case here. The rumor is going about that Mobilink cannot upgrade its network so it was carried out for insurance claims. With the help of that money, they will put new stuff. 

First, this rumor could be debunked quite quickly. Orascom Telecom, the part company of Mobilink, has sold certain assets over the world and kept the Mobilink entity. Nobody keeps a dying entity especially in a country like Pakistan. 

However, there is a second look at it as well. Late last year, there were strong rumors about Warid's sellout to Mobilink. If that has happened in real-time, I think it was done with poor financing options which backfired for the company.

Mobilink is not a small service provider. It is the largest and it is the home to a lot of enterprise stuff, but at its core, it is a company for making calls. This incident has not only caused people inconvenience but they might loose a pie of their business too. If the service does not return to normal by tomorrow morning, there would be a lot of very unhappy business customer turning INDIGO on them. They might have the "JAZBA" to go elsewhere and they would not hear thier "JAZZ".

Fine, accidents happen but this is not the first time when Mobilink turned "Maybelink" but it would not hurt if they find a smart solution about it and PTA gets their "game face" up to make sure that something like this never happens again.

In the end, a plea from my side:

Please be nice with those guys at the Call Centers. It is not their fault (nor their parents) for the Godly mess that Mobilink is.