Telco subscribers find services, connectivity in Kapit ‘wanting’
KAPIT: The telecommunication providers (telco) have yet to satisfy the needs of local mobile phone users as well as the subscribers of wireless communications and Internet.
According to Sarawak Dayak Iban Association ( Sadia) Kapit branch chairman Edward Manggah, the number of local telco customers keeps growing each year but the majority of relevant facilities and services here have yet to be improved or upgraded in line with such growth.
“Nowadays, mobile telecommunications and Internet have become a necessity in life, especially during times of emergency.
“In Kapit, however, the coverage is far below expectations – most of the time, there is not service. Walk past one kilometre away from Kapit town and most likely, your connection would either experience interruptions or be
Nowadays, mobile telecommunications and Internet have become a necessity in life, especially during times of emergency.
lost entirely,” he told The Borneo Post during an informal meeting here recently.
Edward noticed that there were telecommunication towers on the outskirts of this town such as those at Sungai Amang, Bukit Goram, Sungai Pelajau at Jalan Bukit Goram, SK Ulu Sungai Kapit at Jalan Ulu Sungai Yong, Mujong and Sungai Baleh, but based on the feedback from the residents there, they were not working.
“I was informed that somehow, the towers were not operational – they (residents) are still unable to receive connection,” he said, adding that the situation was the same for the folk at Rumah Manok.
PBB Bukit Goram publicity officer Watson Awan understood such predicament, in that he had also been experiencing frequent connectivity disruptions at his residence in Bukit Goram Heights, at KM3 of Jalan Bukit Goram.
“Of course this is an annoying inconvenience. It seems that the telcos are not putting in any effort improve or upgrade their services – perhaps, the service providers should consider awarding rebates to the subscribers every time there is an interruption in connectivity,” he complained.
In his remarks, Bukit Goram assemblyman Jefferson Jamit Unyat believed that it was the responsibility of the telcos to look into the problem and take remedial actions to improve the coverage here.
“I call upon them (telcos) to seriously look into the matter. Wireless connectivity and Internet have now become a necessity in life. Such disruptions in coverage are more than just an inconvenience to the people of Kapit.”
Edward Manggah, Sadia Kapit chairman