Telecom firms explain load shelf-life

[tarantado07]

---

Telecom firms explain load shelf-life

CONGRESSMEN want major telecommunication companies to explain why prepaid credits for call and text messaging must expire after a certain number of days since this is unfair to the public.

The House joint committees on information and communications telecommunication (ICT) and legislative franchise gave Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, and Sun Cellular 10 days to justify the short shelf-life of load credits on prepaid cards and electronic loads for cellular phones.

"Is this something like milk that turns stale? Because there are a lot of instances where loads are not consumed and the result is that our money is lost," Representative Crispin Remulla (Lakas, Cavite) said in the hearing.

The ICT committee is chaired by Representative Liwayway Vinzons-Chato (LP, Camarines Sur), while the legislative franchise panel is headed by Representative Ferjenel Biron (Lakas, Iloilo).

Froilan Castelo of Globe said the expiry period on prepaid loads is imposed to ensure efficiency and to keep their system unclogged.

"There is such thing as HLR in our network, which is the home locator registry. Once a number is activated it occupies a space in the HLR. Every time you open your phone, that space is allotted to you, for your use," he explained.

Castelo said the system was designed in that manner so they can "churn out subscribers who are no longer there."

"We just want to see active members so we can design our network to that effect, so that there would be no clogging or congestion," he added.

Castelo's explanation, according to Remulla, only made him wonder why telecom companies still offer unlimited text promos, which also clog their networks.

"They issue cards for unlimited texting, which really clogs the network and then they are complaining about clogging the system. But when it comes to load expiring, for them it's nothing, they say it's clogging the system. Why would they encourage unlimited texting but when it comes to load, there's an expiration if you're not using it?" he said.

Representative Elpidio Barzaga (Kampi, Cavite) noted that such promos were suddenly stopped last Christmas, purportedly to prevent clogging.

Smart's senior regulatory manager Roy Ibay said there are "financial and technical justifications" for the limited shelf life of prepaid cards.

He said they will explain this in writing.

Ibay also said Smart is strongly against House Bill 456, which prohibits telecom companies from charging the people for Short Messaging Service (SMS).

"It is the practice worldwide that SMS is not free," he told reporters. "Besides, anything given free tends to be subject to abuse."

source: Telecom firms explain load shelf-life | Sun.Star Network Online

[AMD_infinium05]

hahaha.. mao jud.... hala tiluka ang mga networks...

"no expiration dates! use the card till load lasts"

[k.A.i]

im ok for this..

akong load mahurot ra kong ma expire...

sayang kaayo gibayran gud na nato

[istoryaaah]

Its true that it uses a space in the network. Pero its no reason to believe that its clogging the system. They should design the system to expire the prepaid sim when not used in a short period of time rather than expire the prepaid load.

But of course, they chose to let the load expire to forcefully let people buy new sets of prepaid load. Hehehe... idol lagi tong HB 456... free na diay ang SMS? wahahahaha... luoya sa network... mayra pud oi sobra ka abusado, di ma question ang kawat sa load!

[Rance]

It's fair to have an expiration on the card value BUT it's fair to the consumers if it will extend up to a year not days or months. Those Telecom giants needs some spanking - and BTW, those sales tax someone should be responsible on those sold calling cards in the streets.

[RuSteD]

WIth all the crocodiles in the batasan area, i don't think it will prosper. The telecoms company will just fill their pockets with cash and who knows free subscription maybe, that will be enough to shut their mouth.

[jrconde]

this is the time na mangwarta nasad ang mga ABC(Aligators, Buwaya, Crocodiles) sa Batasan Area. hehehhe.

[YJOB]

clog the system?
di man tingali ta tantong bogo to believe that explanation.

[dagski]

<rant>clogged?? pila diay ka Gigabytes does a user info in a database hold? pila ka gigabytes/second man makaon sa banwidth nila kada SMS sent?

SMS should b free!

[emow]

dapat dili mu expire ang mga load... just like in UAE, your sim and load will last for a lifetime... ipabarato nalang nila ang text kung dili man gani ma free.....