ALKHOBAR: Saudi Telecom's Internet and fixed line users across the Kingdom have been experiencing intermittent service issues since Tuesday. According to Internet Service Provider sources there is a problem with the Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM). Technicians were updating the main switching circuit for STC Kingdomwide when it was detected that there was a major fault and part of the network went down. The problem spread throughout Wednesday.
STC repair personnel kept assuring customers that the network would be brought back online within hours but on Wednesday night millions were still without connectivity. STC has not made an official statement concerning their network crisis.
Arab News visited the Al Jawal office on Dhahran Road where an employee, who refused to be identified, stated that she had been told that the network problem was caused by an upgrade for iPhone integration. Not only were STC's DSL customers affected, but even STC's wireless Internet customers and fixed line voice services were down. When asked why customers hadn't been alerted in advance of the potential for a network outage, the STC employee said, "These decisions are made by the management in Riyadh. We just deal with them like everyone else."
With the Kingdom's shift to eGovernment and paperless document processing, having the network down is a serious matter.
"I went to the Passport office twice today to pick up my renewed Iqama," said Amzad Hossain, a taxi driver. "Both times they told me, 'System mafee. Computer karban.' What could I do? I will have to try again on Saturday. I can wait, but there were other upset people there who needed their papers finished today."
Shopkeepers are in trouble. With the Saudi school vacation coming to a close, families are out at the malls and they want to spend, but they can't. "Since the start of the afternoon session today debit cards and credit cards can't be used," said Mohammed Shammiri, manager, National Bookshop, Alrashid Mall. "There's no network connection. I have to tell customers to go and draw money from the ATMs, which thank God are still working."
Mobily's network is operational, but its wireless Internet is slower than usual -- probably due to extreme demand. Some offices use Mobily's WiMax as a redundant solution to keep their e-mail operational during a DSL outage.
How best to cope with the network outage? Take some advice from Amr Sameeh Mostafa, projects manager for SPARKS General Contracting. "When the Internet went down people sat around chatting and eventually went home. So STC gave everyone an early weekend. Am I upset? Yes, but what can I do? Just breathe deep and stay calm, because it's out of your hands."
© Arab News 2011
