www.lifhaus.com.sb

thanks our telekom for reducing it to its original selling price. but the question for us customers is, will the system cope once everyone floods in and buys sim cards? .... i have talked to some OT engineers and some senior executives and in their personal opinion, the system just might not cope under a huge deluge of customers.......over to our OT experts ;)

I think people often forget or miss out on the obvious. That Our Telekom is trying to change because it has some new people who are now trying to effect changes. If anyone cared to read the transcript of CE Loyley Ngira's press release of a few days ago - you would have sensed his commitment to change and meeting customer expectations. We can probably only expect good things if Our Telekom continues to try and change. A lot of the policies and pricing regimes are left overs from the M Robinson era. Of course, he ran the company well but he charged you a heck lot of money to keep it working. I think we need to support Loyley and allow him to bring his vision for Our Telekom to fruition. Or how ba?

Good on Our Telekom for realizing that $400 SIM is not affordable to use rural dwellers. I think by subscribing to your service is a sure sign of our support to you. IHow do you want us support you? A tokem of donation would you reckon for us?

I guess the tide is coming and need to prepared or else will be flatten to the ground. as someone have already pointed out, will telekom handle existing and new subscribers.

With recent introduction of 7 digit mobile number i guess Telkom have reached 99,999 subscribers including both land or mobile. Now we have started to add another 900,000 more than enough for the whole popn of Solomon Island to have his/her mobile number.

My only fear now is if telekom is unable to satisfy its subscribers will it lose it to new comers? or are we relaying on our wantok system to work in this techno world.

I do hope that Telekom has some plans to rectify it's network. Now that sim cards are cheaper and here are signs that handsets are getting discounted, the influx of customers to the mobile market will no doubt grow exponentially. Telekom needs to start taking urgent action to inprove it's network.

For sure, competition will be here, and there will be mass migration, and in the end who ever can deliver for customer satisfaction will end up the winner. However, loyality is another point for consideration.. and the NPF shares that cold come back to our working population if they do support telekom.

In the end, the winner will be our nationals, and the opportuninities cheaper comunications will be able to offer.

For now, I eagerly await GPRS.

its saturday again ....and again the telekom mobile network ain't workin. i can't text or call mobile numbers :( pls help us telekom experts :( :( it surely is depressing on a saturday hehe ...

I agree Vaai. Sometimes we "feel the breeze" other times, especially on Saturday's (weekend), we "feel the frustration"!!!!....
As I commented on another thread, Our Telekom is still not where it wants to be. ie it still cannot compete....but I can see changes starting to happen from where I am watching. That is a good start.
And as Administrator rightfully pointed out in agreeing with my position; Our Telekom must also "weed out those that inhibit change".
However, has anyone thought it be possible that when competition comes Our Telekom will just sell of NPF shares to an overseas investor who then "slash/cut/burn" to streamline operations and compete? I think it is very possible and probably plan B if Our Telekom suddenly finds itself unable to compete against stronger opponents. In that way Solomon Islanders lose out!

It is true of what they say..."You can't satisfy all the people all the time". Even Eve in the garden of Eden wasn't satisfied with her abundance source of food and good clear instructions from her hunk Adam and GOD himself, that she still went over to eat and be deceived by the New Mobile Entrant that was flying with vibrant colours...or lets say the Completion...Lets not be blind...I sure hope to see progress when competition is well alive and kicking...and it is a good thing!...My first guess is that the people who calls not so often and looking for free stuff (like our current Run Loose GSM users...by this i mean those that call and when you pick up they'll say quickly "call come back" type of customers) will be the first to go over ;-) ...then the effect this will have on the network is two fold. 1. It will free-up the Breeze networks and thus enable more first time call connections to go through. 2.Have more channels available for the average business customer of breeze who will b calling heavily on Saturday... The New Mobile Entrant will find itself with if not all, the majority of the RL users in one gulp...and as long as the free handouts is flowing they will stay there...meanwhile Our Telekom will start to reward customers based on their activities and loyalty. Everybody that stays will have better connectivity packages and will be happy that they stayed. They can call landlines with no additional costs, they can make free calls within certain circles and the benefits will not be limited to GSM only unlike the NME. I hope they did not come here to make a profit. Becos this will be bad for us as a country, money going out of the nation like that is going to mean only one thing. I just hope that the NME does not say "bakete man...mas everi rabis blo Telekom na come lo iumi ia...:-)"...who knows maybe NPF might sell off and then back to square one...

I'm just trying to guess what might happen, none of the above is likely to eventuate! I'm all for competition coz that is the future...lets play!

SI is such a small but a growing market and every customer are equally important to any business aiming to a make a return at the end of the day. I would not agree with Kiiri for telekom to categorize some of its customers as Run Loose but try to keep and build its customer base. Run Loose can also initiate communication that should earn a bill. A telco will not be interested to know who pays the bill but someone pays for it.
I would encourage Telekom and NPF to explore ways to help each other in this competitive market. One that comes to mind is to have NPF send NPF members balances to its members by text at the EOM. That can be also explored with BSP, a company NPF is also holds some shares. This come with a price but some understanding could be reach with a reasonable charge to members.
In long term both Telcom, NPF and its members are winners and not losers when NPF sell its shares to a foreign interest.
What most of us would want from any telco is not perfection or 101% rather an affordable, reasonable, adequate and a moderate service that when its needed we can use it without hassle or frustrations

First of all lets correct your quote "telekom to categorize some of its customers as Run Loose"...i kiiri said this NOT Telekom...If there was another company in operation here with the same services, i would have picked on the same group in their network...unfortunately its only and still only the faithful "Our Telekom". But you are again right, those group of people do make revenue on calls terminated on their handsets. And normally the guy making the reverse call is the one that complains about the bills in the end

As for "affordable, reasonable," do you have any idea how much it costs to put up a GSM Tower to enable cheap talk...what expenses and sacrifice Our Telekom is going through to get it "affordable, reasonable,"...it has the cheapest rates in the pacific to date! when you said that we have "such a small but a growing market" you were dead right. Truth is when there is a global recession anywhere normally profitable business houses will tighten up their kabilatos.

Oh but i like your ideas on NPF and BSP sending balance through SMS. This is what we need in this developing country...Constructive comments and ideas...i know it is being used in the other 1st world countries...i'll need 2 run now...so i'll continue l8ter..

Bring Digicel on....to see how cheap it is in other world.....

Ma talem oketa DiDiCel hurry up nao...Oketa hao 2mas ia!! HahAhahahahahahaHAHhahAh!!!... mi laek testim oketa 2 ia...HAhahahHAhAHahAHa!!! Hao ufala tok aboom oketa ia osem bae oketa kam run free nomoa lo hia ia...HAhAHAhAHAhAhAHA!!! Kaen chip n free taeb ia na ending blo hem osem RAMOS #3 ia..HAHAHahahAhHAhAHAh!!!! aia kam 4 iumi taraem!! hHAHahAhahAhahA!!!

Research coming out of Vanuatu indicate that there are 100,000 subscribers in Vanuatu and almost 70% of them are Digicel customers enjoying very high quality of service.  I think Our Telekom is in for trouble; last Saturday mobile services were down again.  Oi ma ae - ma look olsem Digicel by 99.99% den Telekom 0.01% of the market.  The 0.01% being its own employees who like to talk on their mobiles while speeding along our highway.

Couldnt agree more Neo! With the wind of change song in the air I am predicting that the fiirst ones to make the switch to degicel will be Our Telekom employees followed by their customers.

whispers said that Digicel is looking at some of our Telekom current engineers to join its team. If our telekom is not proactive to retain its workforce then we are to see an exodus of employees going for digicel esp those disgruntle striking employees who lead MR to the exit door.

Our Telekom even if you are to lose part of the market dont lose your workforce.

Telekom definitely needs to dig around for strategies.  We'll see who throws in the towel during the bout. With Digicel's colorful resume Telekom certainly is in for a rough start.

I think I'm da X-pet from Vanuatu...I have seen that TVL (Telecom Vanuatu Limited) is not on the same footing or same league as Our Telekom...So for DiDicel to over take them is not surprising...Digicel went in when TVL was only covering 3 of the main islands over there ans sure enough DiDicel with the bigger n better network covered all of the 10-11 major islands there...in Solomon thats the size of a province and just to say it will do the same here...i'm yet to see!!!....remember this is the Solomon Islands...but yes Our Telekom will be in for a rough start...and it is just good that DiDicel left this country this long b4 hem kam... DiDicel have done everything same everywhere...by the book...and that means it can be read back to front or anyhow you want...Oh yes..they always hunt in the competitors fence...TVL only lost one employee to them and later left DiDicel too...OH i 4got to say that the 70% of the 100,000 subscribers in Vanuatu also have a TVL SIM CARD..its not as if they left TVL altogether...melanisians like to move from one party to another...depends where the BBQ is...iuminim...even in the GOVerment... so Island style nao...

Will need to take certain initiatives. Some silly suggestions
1. Provide a Lovers hour: Romantic time when you can call the love of your life (or lo back side blo hem) and whisper sweet nothings.
2. Create a sense of belonging: Kaen olsem hem more hip to join this network at this hour.
3. Offer specials. Make one call, get two free.
4. Have X-Ray cameras on locked handsets. mekem staka people buy'm mobiles just for the feature.
5. And enable Bill payments. Mi tired for line lo Cashpower na.
6. Ability to Bar Certain numbers: I find some people just plain annoying.
7. Give free mobiles to High School girls. For Sure lots of gullible calls will get caught on that network. Termination point.
8. Get one news on Mobile.. For iumi luk luk Video Clip
9. Enable Voice transformation: Mekem iumi save ring and voice sound different.
10. GPRS..
 

It is good to hear that Our Telekom will be bringing improved services to the public of Solomon Islands. 
What I do not agree with is that these improved changes came out of thin air.  While changes at the top of the management echelon may also be a reason, the real reason is the impending competition brought about by deregulating the mobile phone sector market.  Let's not kid ourself, if there was no impending competion, Our Telekom will not be bringing these improved services because they are not required to.  The profit margin was dictating the services and under the legal monopoly, they are perfectly within their right ( to the detriment of the public) to be offering sub-standard services and uncompetitive prices.  When the government deregulated the mobile sector market (at a price), Our Telecom had no choice but to change its strategy.  It had to improve its services and be competitive or bee seen to competitive in their  prices and the coverage of their services.  If they do not improve their services and offer value for money, they will die a natural death.  That is the rule of economics full stop.  I have always said and will say it again that having one service provider in the mobile sector is not good for the people and business community in Solomon Islands or any country for that matter. I am pleased that mobile phone sector has been deregulated and and moveover that Our Telecom has put in plans to compete with any ompany enters the mobile phone sector market. If Digicel or Vodafone enters the market and operates without competition, they will behave as a monopoly. As the Fiji public knows- prices and services in the Fiji mobile sector only improved and was competitive only after Digicel entered.  I believe Our Telekom will still compete with any company that enters the Solomon Islands mobile phone market - if they play their cards right.

Its simple...One thing that we all want and agree on is Competition must happen! Telekom use to be the expensive company (compared to itself)..but not anymore, it has the cheapest call rates in the Pacific...check 4 ur selves...Telekom will move into a new level whether competition is here or not!...those that want to leave and move to someone one else...by all means do so!..its a free country!...do what u have to do to get locked up to their network...just don't look back over ur shoulders...lol...Telekom will implement a 3G network early 2010...competition should rethink deploying any 2G network if they want a piece of the pie..but they can do whatever they want...It's clear that the SIG GOV is welkamin them and acceptin less for the country for competition's sake...Our Telekom also wants them here ASAP...so they can help solve alot of public quires...Full Telco company lelebet...mobile seleva nomoa...bae garem directories too?...to this date not even one Telco company in the pacific that was operating b4 competition has died the "natural death" Yet!...And ur rite!..."Our Telekom will still compete with any company that enters the Solomon Islands mobile phone market - if they play their cards right."...coz its not a Trade shop in the corner street...hem save wip tu ia...People are always saying Our Telekom is frightened of the competition...but haven't you stopped and asked urself...why aren't they here yet?...no gut oketa bata fritem Telekom too...becoz Millions will be spent to try to get profit in this powerful economy of Solomon Islands,...Chuuuu!!!I am proud to say.."Our Telekom is still benefiting this country to date!"...Competition 0% to date!...but please make them feel welkam...coz we need them ASAP! by the way..Our Telekom has dual sim mobile Phones... u can have two numbers or sim card from different networks on one handset...can work with sim from competitor also...not the other way around...

Just quoting from your discussion "One thing that we all want and agree on is Competition must happen"....u seem to be on the right track...but your next line "Full Telco company lelebet...mobile seleva nomoa" .....this made me feel like u are not really welcoming the new comer...u like high minded nomoa lo service wea ufala takem long time 4 improvim...its true U fala lo Telekom just seke 4 improve na ya....hapi tu mas u fala ba garem 3 G network but what's the use of it if the quality that its gonna come with it is goin to be expensive?.......4 samfala lo mifala cheap connection nomoa aim ya....nomata hem 2G OR 3G or what G ba mi fala go 4 one wea selen from lelbet produce mifala selem lo market bae save affordim nomoa......Telekom benefitim mifala ya true tu mas...ya true tumas but if aim blo ufala nao 4 mekem mifala crawl fas time b 4 u benefitim mifala then ba mi say hem nothing gut lo mi nomoa ....idea nomoa ya

Don't think that Telekom is doing you any favours for selling you "cheap" SIM cards. This is like charging people to walk in the door of your store. In Australia, SIM cards are FREE. That's right - lose your phone / SIM card, walk into the Telecom Oz office and get another one for FREE. For about SBD$140 per month, you get a SIM card, phone, and piles of calls. Bring on the competition!!!

hahahahaha, i must admit that it is funny when you think of it as charging to walk into the door of your shop.  However, I must admit that perhaps the sheer volume of subscribers in Oz allows operators to "afford" some handouts like the SIM.  But in real business terms (my knowledge is limited) it is an expense and someone somewhere must pay.  Perhaps a small operator like Our Telekom still passes that cost onto the customer.  Good on them, they still promise you a "free" SIM if you buy a handset.  That is of course another model for business.  The much touted competitor Digicel charges for its SIM too!  Just in case anyone was wondering. As for the SBD140 quote, I am sure it probably comes with a 2 year contract and locked.  So in Honiara, for about AUD80 (the price to get the phone unlocked), you get an unlocked phone, a SIM and SBD25 worth of calls.  With call rates halved, I believe Telekom is doing something to compete.  Now if only they can get the service as reliable as feeling the "breeze"!!!!

Stret wan Olman lo dei..hehehehe..no wari bae Telekom no fogetim oketa 2G loving subscribers..2G will always be available when 3G is inplace...you bae usim wat u save affordim nomoa...and free to do so anytime, anywhere... and i said "Full Telco company lelebet...mobile seleva nomoa"..becos taem new gang come and start na bae oketa pipol feelim seleva...posible headaches that some of us don't see at this time..i can highlight it but i might be seen as just pro Our Telekom so i'll prefer to wait fastaem 4 oketa kam stat lo hia na nice..

an inconsistent service both data and voice. Is there any disgruntle employee still around in the org? Last time it was the employees who stood to the exit door for the former CEO. Now I guess the equipment are calling for someone else.

Tok tok go go ufala num... just tell whoever na laek kam 4 operate fo start na...westeam nomoa oketa complen ia... trae doim ba!...

The least i can say about Our Telekom is...it is still in operation...if we don't like it..switch of our mobile or do something positve...

Or pray abit harder for competition to start earlier...my wat!!!!

This post is very timely. It comes with the current condition since we are living in these times where practicality is essential. To have a SIM card with a reasonable price is extremely helpful.