As soon as the lockdown happens, more people start using the internet for various purposes. The internet becomes the only means of communication. And it puts pressure on the network. With more than 700,000 mobile users, it is no different this time with people complaining about the slow internet speeds.
Besides COVID-19 and related issues, social media is flooded with complaints about the slow internet speeds.
“When we call customer care, they say it is due to the current lockdown where many people are using the network. If that’s the case, this is not the first lockdown. It is the third lockdown. I think we are the same registered users. So the question is why is something not done to improve the service?” said Gem Tshering, a resident in Thimphu.
“During this lockdown, we have to stay put at our homes without any option. And the internet is our only company and it’s even more boring. These days, there are new apps like Samuh where we have to use the internet. Before 4G used to work properly but now the companies have launched 5G. But the speed is not as fast. It has to be updated,” said Tenzin Dendup, another resident.
TashiCell and Bhutan Telecom are the two telecom service providers in the country. While the companies are aware of the problems, they have their share of challenges.
“To increase the resources for mobile data, we need to have towers as many as possible. So we could not increase that because we are not able to get land for putting up the towers. And we have been working with Thromde and Thromde has been working but they are also proving to be difficult. For instance, we have applied in 2021 for 21 sites to be built in Thimphu but we only got approved for nine. So those are the constraints that we are not able to extend the mobile network resources,” said Tashi Tshering, the Managing Director of TashiCell.
“One of the difficulties or one of the major challenges for us also is getting approvals for installing those monopolies. Even though we are looking at just poles, not towers, we do have difficulties in getting approval because I think there are so many processes to be completed. In terms of deploying additional sites, we do have these issues of clearances for putting up our additional infrastructure,” said Karma Jurme, the CEO of Bhutan Telecom.
One of them said that it has become important to have policies that will help rollout the network faster.
The companies added that people complaining about 5G contributing to the slow internet speeds is also not true. They said 5G won’t just deliver faster speeds but will also help reduce the congestion on the 4G network.
Samten Dolkar
