Have you been experiencing slow internet lately? Well, you are not alone. Across the country, users have been complaining about sluggish speeds and unstable connections. Yet, the two service providers, Bhutan Telecom and TashiCell, say that there have been no disruptions in their service.
From video calls dropping unexpectedly to buffering videos and failed online payments, people across the country say internet performance has noticeably deteriorated lately in both urban centres and rural pockets.
“The internet issue has been ongoing and seems endless. We lose customers because they cannot pay us through MBoB. When we contact the service providers, we never get a clear answer,” says Pemba Wangchuk, a shopkeeper in Thimphu.
Sangay Tshewang, a taxi driver says, “I am a taxi driver, and most passengers these days do not carry cash; they only use online payment platforms. But with the internet often not working, especially about three times a week, they are unable to pay us.”
“These days, we all rely on the internet, but the poor network makes it impossible to work. We recharge, but the internet does not function properly, and the data runs out before we can even use it,” says Namgay Wangdi, a resident in Pema Gatshel.
“We are having trouble with the network. My customers cannot use MBoB to pay because of this issue,” says Mon Bdr. Dahal, a shopkeeper in Tsirang.
Sherab Tharchen, a shopkeeper in Trashigang says, “Many customers scan to pay, but the money does not reach my account. I don’t know whether the problem lies with the internet or the bank.”
“The network fails when we need it the most. Even if someone falls ill, we cannot get in touch with anyone,” says Thinley, a Samdrup Jongkhar resident.
Similarly, Tshering Jamtsho from Paro College of Education says, “As students, it is extremely frustrating when we have to submit our assignments by midnight and the network suddenly stops working. All we can do is try to reach out to our lecturers and explain, but it still feels unfair when it is beyond our control.”
Similar complaints have flooded social media platforms. They are calling on service providers for clearer explanations and immediate improvements.
However, Bhutan Telecom and Tashi Cell maintain that they have not made any changes to their services that would affect users’ experience. They claim their operations continue at the same capacity and standards as before.
Today, the two telecom companies have more than 800,000 subscribers.
Bhutan Telecom is to reduce the data charges by 50 per cent next month, addressing one aspect of the complaints. But, it is not yet clear whether the change will lower the price or increase the data amount.
Deki Lhazom
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
