From simple landline phones to using sophisticated mobile phones with high-speed internet, the telecommunication service has come a long way. And with easy access, many people use mobile banking services to recharge talk time and data in their mobile phones. This has reduced the number of E-load service providers. E-load is a paperless recharge facility which is available to prepaid customers.
These days, most of the shopkeepers in Thimphu town don’t provide E-load facility.
BBS talked to more than 40 shops along the Norzin Lam and near Centenary Farmers Market and found that only seven shops provide the E-load facility.
Most of the shopkeepers said they have discontinued the service as they cannot make a profit from it.
“I cannot make a profit like in the past. We have to buy an E-load from Telecom with a minimum of Nu 20,000. Even for TashiCell, we used to get about six per cent commission but now we don’t get that too. It’s just a waste of time. That’s why I stopped selling E-load,” said Ganga Gurung, a shopkeeper.
And when they stopped selling E-load, customers are affected. There is still high demand for the service. Customers like elderly people and those who don’t have mobile banking services still visit shops looking around for the service.
“I don’t know how to recharge talk time and data. Moreover, I don’t know much about MBoB. But when we go to the shops, the E-load facility is not available. If this is the situation in the town, I am sure that people in the remote areas are facing a lot of difficulties,” said Chencho, a customer.
“In the past, the talk time and data packages used to be available in all the shops. Now, we cannot get paper vouchers and data packages anywhere. It is problematic when we have to make calls or talk. It is not a big problem for those who know how to read and write but for people like us, it would be helpful if we can get these services from shops again,” said Nima, another customer.
According to the Bhutan Telecom office, they have revised the rule whereby the minimum amount of E-loads shopkeepers has to buy is Nu 5,000. It was implemented at the end of October. Officials added that they are in the process of creating awareness among the shopkeepers about it.
However, officials have yet to compile the data on how many shopkeepers provide the service.
Namgay Dema
Edited by Tshering Zam
