• 15Jun

  TRA orders Batelco to appologise for deceiving customers

  news, positions, tra 47 Comments

  The TRA has ordered Batelco to stop advertising its BD10 ADSL package immediately, appologise to those who registered, refund any monies collected and issue a press release saying:

  “Batelco has today been ordered by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority to cease to offer a BD 10 per month, 256 kbits/s DSL package. This is because Batelco failed to meet its obligations under the Telecommunications Law and its License. Batelco apologizes to its consumers in that it has misled them through the advertisements issued that it could offer such packages when it was aware that it could not do so legally. This announcement is issued persuant to the order to the Authority.”
  TRA Order 1/06 :: 14 May ‘06

  It would be quite nice and appropriate that Order 2/06 would tell Batelco to remove the threshold limits on the other recent packages it introduced.

  other referencesTRA blocks Batelco package :: GDN 15/06/06

• 13Jun

  Our TRA RFC response

  positions, tra 17 Comments

  As I’m going to be on a short business trip and won’t be here on the 15th, I have taken the liberty in summarising the points raised in the TRA RFC topic and sent them an email outlining our position.

  Here is what I submitted:

  I have attached the responses to your RFC which we posted on our site: http://boycottbatelco.com, to read the up-to-date comments and suggestions, please go to: http://boycottbatelco.com/?p=54

  Our view of the RFC is that:

  1. As it is intended specifically for the new Batelco ADSL packages situation, and
  2. As we have been discussing this very issue for weeks now,

  we do not see the value of personalizing the complaint procedure, as providing individual CPRs and personal information would make of the process. We also suggest that as the issue is defined (our objection to the threshold limits) then the TRA need not mount another procedure in order to initiate formal complaint investigation with Batelco. The information has already been provided by the various emails and faxes the TRA has received from named individuals, as well as concerned people who chose to be anonymous for their own reasons.

  The issue is that there is a specific complaint against Batelco in it imposing a threshold limit on what were open packages, and its forced migration of subscribers to the new packages, even though their supply contract stipulates that Batelco can change the terms and conditions of the provided service with little or no notice to its subscribers.

  Taking the above into consideration, as well as the attached responses gathered from our website, we feel that the proposed complaint procedure against the recently announced Batelco ADSL packages as not necessary; however we continue to urge the TRA to resolve the matter as soon as possible as we see the current restrictions as unfair and detrimental to the pursuit of the individual’s quality of life with all that entails.

  Should you wish to provide Batelco with signatories in support of this argument, please point them to http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?bhr where 4,997 individuals signified their objection by signing the aforementioned petition.

  We look forward to your response, and sincerely thank you for your efforts in attempting to resolve the matter.

  Kind regards,
  Mr. Mahmood Al-Yousif

  for the Boycott Batelco Initiative
  http://boycottbatelco.com

• 11Jun

  TRA RFC: Procedure Batelco’s new broadband packages complaint procedure

  news, tra 13 Comments

  The TRA requests comments on its draft procedure for dealing with consumer complaints regarding the new Batelco Broadband packages

  On June 10, 2006, the TRA issued a request for comments on its draft procedure for dealing with consumer complaints regarding the new Batelco Broadband packages. Deadline for responses is 15 June 2006 at 5:00 p.m.

  Click to read (pdf) in English, and Arabic.

  Since the deadline is 15th june at 5pm.. i believe we have like 4 days….

  Let’s not miss this chance now to voice ourselves with respect to Batelco’s broadband packages.

  from admin: thanks for the contribution Concerned

• 07Jun

  BD5 ADSL package public consultation press conference

  news 53 Comments

  I’ve just returned form a press conference by Batelco where they sought public consultation on a new entry-level package they are considering launching. They have not applied to the TRA for approval yet, but will continue with public solicitation of views on the proposed package for another 2 weeks, then apply to the TRA for approval which might take another 4 weeks before the service is finally launched.

  
  L to R: Eyad, Peter K, Adel Dailami

  The package:

  The new entry-level package is priced at BD 5 per month with a speed of 128kbps and a threshold limit of 2GB, after which its speed will be reduced to 64k and for that period (once speed is reduced) no further charges will be applied.

  Eligibility:

  Low income families and the unemployed are the targets for this package. This is the demographic for this package at the moment and Batelco might change its mind and make this package available to all if it gets public support, and TRA approval.

  Batelco was seeking consultation with the public as to which household would fit into that bracket, and have not finalised the mechanism for doing that so far.

  Other discussion and notes:

  As you might expect, I raised our main issues with the threshold on the recently announced packages, and Ahmed Al-Hujairi of the Bahrain Internet Society backed me up quite well; his supportive statements indicate that the BIS has now taken a public stance strongly against Batelco’s ADSL residential restrictions.

  Peter K has publicly committed that by August 14th, 2006, Batelco will come out with packages “for the 14%” for the high-end users which might contain unrestricted access.

  I have recorded most of the press conference on my mobile phone, unfortunately the quality is not that great, but if you wish you can listen to it online here (see link below) or download it and listen to it on your own. Although the quality is not that good, but if you crank the volume you will be able to hear the discussion. The recording begins 5 minutes or so after the start of the session.

  Further activities:

  The BIS has a meeting with Batelco at 12 mid-day today to discuss the limited packages again, and propose alternative packages for Batelco to consider. I hope to get their suggestions to publish here after their meeting.

  Press Conference Audio:
  Be warned: the file is 44.6MB in size, and is 44:26 minutes long. It took me more than an hour to upload the file (office, 512Mb/128Mb)

  Download (right click and save as)

  [audio:batelco_BD5package_consultation.mp3]
  Click to listen

• 07Jun

  Petition back online

  positions 3 Comments

  With 4733 signatures when I checked last! It is now owned and as far as I can tell there is no threat for it to be removed.

  If you haven’t already, please consider signing the petition and make your voice count.

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