Rarotonga, Cook Islands: Telecom Cook Islands pledge to deliver better service has been branded a facade by Mervin Communications director William Framhein.

“It’s all very well for Anthony Briscoe of Telecom New Zealand to say Telecom Cook Islands is of like-mind with the government and the people who want telecommunications that are good value, great service and quality second to none, however in Mervin Communications’ view, Telecom Cook Islands’ track record of bad mobile phone service/coverage, probable oversubscribing bandwidth capacity on the internet and high pricing does not equal like-mind with the people in reality,” said Mr Framhein.

He has labelled Telecom NZ’s statement it will support government’s plans to introduce competition a complete ‘facade or a Clayton’s statement by Briscoe’.

“The real spirit is Telecom New Zealand is urging government to consider the risks and implications of opening the market – in other words leave things as they are.”

Mr Framhein said he’s not surprised at the company’s admission it has lost sight of the ball over the past decade either.

He said it has taken pressure from organisations such as the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce, Mervin Communications and others for government to agree opening up the telecommunications industry, which has now forced Telecom Cook Islands to review all its business disciplines.

Mervin Communications and its subsidiary companies KukiCel and KukiNet believe the only way TCI will change for the better will be if it allows Mervin Communications and its subsidiary companies to establish and operate their own telecommunications network.

Mr Framhein has hit out at comments made by TCI chief executive Jules Maher that people want better services and better prices.

“The people of the Cook Islands for some time have been squealing about better quality, better service, lower prices, faster and lower internet prices and competition. Jules Maher’s comments neglect to acknowledge that people also want competition and an open telecommunications industry.”

Mr Framhein said  Mervin Communications would like to claim some credit for Telecom’s decision to start listening to its customers, adding ‘let’s see what eventuates’ from the pledge. 

Meanwhile, Telecom wants to tailor solutions to the needs of businesses as it attempts to improve its overall services further, said chief executive Jules Maher.

Ms Maher said the company is hoping to better understand the specific needs of businesses.
“We need to find out what you really need,” he said.

Mr Maher said since he started heading the company last June, he has been listening to the needs of customers.

“The message I get is pretty simple – better quality, lower prices and especially faster and cheaper broadband,” he said

Mr Maher told key clients that last year TCI responded to this request by increasing broadband data caps by 50 percent at no extra charge, lowered prepaid mobile calling rates, and gave away free minutes to post-paid mobile customers.

He promises these latest price reductions won’t be the last.

And to continue the trend he’s asking key clients to talk to TCI about their needs.

The key client management and support structure at TCI has recently been strengthened and the company will be going to each client individually to talk more about tailoring solutions for their specific needs.

IT whiz Robert Matheson has joined Mary Metuariki in the business solutions team which will carry out this function.

Mr Maher also spoke about Telecom’s ‘pie in the sky’ – plans to sign up to the O3B (other three billion) satellite consortium that is aiming to launch low orbiting satellites in about two year’s time that could help provide better and cheaper internet.

He said s the broadband speed using O3B would be comparable to fibre optic cable at a very attractive price.

Mr Maher said current broadband use would need to grow ‘substantially’ to make the O3B contract viable.