The whole nine yards

Emtel goes the whole nine yards

FOREGOING all recommendations, I subscribed to Emtel when I needed a mobile phone in Mauritius last November. Many criticised my choice, citing Emtel’s poor customer service and inadequate coverage in some areas when compared to CellPlus’s. First, on principle, I wanted to favour the “little guy”. And second, I believed Emtel was more innovative than the competition.

In Mauritius again in February, I was reassured of my earlier decision whenever Emtel’s affordable mobile Internet service made it possible for me to continue working remotely when the expensive and unreliable ADSL connection from Telecom Plus became unusable. Had there not been the flexible tariffs that Emtel offered, tele-work would have been impossible.

Today’s news about Emtel’s plans to deploy a fibre optic cable network across Mauritius and to have their own international connection through an undersea cable, which would make them independent of Mauritius Telecom-controlled SAFE, confirms their drive for innovation. Not only are they aiming to lower Internet prices for Mauritians, but they also have the bigger ambition of matching the prices of ISPs in Europe.

« Notre objectif est de pouvoir offrir la même vitesse de bande passante et au même prix qu’à l’étranger », Shyam Roy, directeur général d’Emtel [...]

« Ce n’est pas possible qu’un pays qui se dit être une cyber-île ne peut offrir une connexion à 8 mégabits à ses internautes. »

While Orange (ex-Telecom Plus) are trying to cut corners with such gimmicks as Fair Use Policy and monthly download caps, Emtel is bent on serving their customers as best as possible. To achieve this, they are not making any concession.

Eddy.

Speaking the language

Making yourself understood

PRIS and I want to send some A4-size photo prints to Mauritius and have bought hard-back envelopes for this purpose. But, based on what we have seen before, we are not convinced that the postmen in Mauritius will be obliged by the “PLEASE DO NOT BEND” labels on them.

Inspired by this graffiti, I am thinking of adding my own touch to the envelopes, something along the line of “PA PLIYE SA, TA KOSON” (hover to translate), but Pris thinks it would be a bad idea :-)

Eddy.