Mexico - 6 out of 10 for telecommunications
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Posted Wed 30 September 2009 @ 6:50 p.m. by Ernie Newman
I've been quiet on the blogging for a few days. Reason - been here in Cancun, Mexico for the 6-monthly session of APECTel, the regional forum for policy makers and regulators. I'm about to post specific items about three key developments and insights to do with international mobile roaming, IPv6, and electricity.
Its good to travel and see how New Zealand compares with others.
I have to say connectivity here in Cancun is patchy. Email is fine. But voice and SMS are unpredictable - most of the time they are ok, but there are long and frequent periods when the networks just go to sleep - no SMS, no voice, no messages. And most outward calls take 4 or 5 attempts to get through.
Having said all that, Mexico is a developing economy so we shouldn’t be too picky. And New Zealand is not exactly isolated from service failures.
But what does brass me off is the price of calling home. A mobile call to NZ is $5 a minute ($300 an hour which for a business traveller is probably a fairer reflection). Ringing NZ from my hotel is worse at $7. The best solution is to get people to call me at the hotel, or on "roam forward" at $1 on top of the normal mobile charge which is acceptable.
International roaming charges have been the subject of lots of discussion and serious action at this meeting. At long last users are being listened to. For more detail read my report on the meeting on the "Memberline" section of this site. You need a login and password - if you dont have one and you, or your organisation is a TUANZ member, follow the simple instructions on the site to get one or ring Sophie at the TUANZ office for help - 09 488 1881.
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