Digicel to rethink their anti-consumer decision, banning users from calling on whatsapp
Digicel to rethink their anti-consumer decision, banning users from calling on whatsapp
The Issue
To force Digicel to rethink their anti-consumer decision, banning users from calling on WhatsApp
Many Saint Lucians believe they have been abused for years at the hands of wireless phone providers with high monthly fees and annoying limits on texts and voice calls. WhatsApp Calling lets you call your friends and family using WhatsApp for free, even if you are in another country. Currently, telecommunication provider Digicel has blocked users from making free calls on WhatsApp. Now WhatsApp, the popular mobile messaging service owned by Facebook, WhatsApp Calling feature is comparable to Skype and FaceTime.
The basic principles of Net Neutrality says, “The core principles of Net Neutrality must be adhered to, and that user rights on the Internet need to be protected”. According to Wikipedia, net neutrality is the principle that Internet service providers and governments should treat all data on the Internet equally, not discriminating or charging differentially by user, content, site, platform, application, type of attached equipment, and modes of communication.
Saint Lucians should then be very concerned about, the fact that they pay for WhatsApp annually or every 2 years and subscribing to DIGICEL’s data packages, which allow Saint Lucians to access to the internet and mobile based services WHATSAPP is authorized by their respective application download portal be it Google Play Store, the Apple App Store, or even the BlackBerry World app store, these applications were developed, scrutinized by the respective platforms, they were developed for and AUTHORIZED for download by the public. Corporation like WhatsApp makes millions a year off of their service which many Saint Lucians pay for, then to be slapped by DIGICEL’s demands? We need to defend our right to utilize the data we pay for any way we see fit.
Digicel should not be allowed to ban WhatsApp calling! If so they should also ban Facebook Calling. This is unfair, the fact that we pay Digicel data plans for internet on our mobiles devices, it matters little if it stresses the bandwidth. We pay for a plan which include a specific bandwidth so we expect to use what we pay for. Digicel should stop immediately and allow users to make WhatsApp calls.
We have had a monopoly for many years and now we have a voice, we encourage every Saint Lucian to join the cause and let telecommunication companies know that the monopoly is OVER. We the users expect to be treated fairly and be allowed to use the services we pay for. WE WIIL NOT BE SHORTCHANGED!
Sign the petition below if you are in favor of Digicel allowing WHATSAPP calling! If Digicel fails to acknowledge our Petition we will encourage Saint Lucians to support LIME!!
Concerned Citizen
JADIA JN. PIERRE
GRACE, VIEUX-FORT
SAINT LUCIA
1(758)720-4992 jadiajnpierre@yahoo.com 1(758) 285-5631
August 10, 2015
Mr. Jerome Jules,
Chairman,
National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission,
1st and 2nd floor,
Rajana Group of Companies Building,
Bois D'Orange,
Gros-Islet,
SAINT LUCIA.
Dear Mr. Jules,
RE: BLOCKING OF WHATSAPP CALLS ON THE DIGICEL NETWORK
I write to officially register my discontent with the decision taken by Digicel to block WhatsApp calls on its network. Whereas it has been brought to my attention that Digicel has taken the same position on all Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, I can only make a case for that which I can present evidence of.
On Saturday, August 8, 2015, at approximately, 9:40am, I attempted to make a call via WhatsApp. After attempts to connect, the following message popped up on my screen: “Couldn’t place call because your phone’s cellular network prevents WhatsApp calls. Try connecting to Wi-Fi and call again.” At 2:43pm on the same day, I tried again and the result was the same. I have enclosed screenshots of the message as proof of my claim.
There is no better way to express it, but to simply say, I have a problem with this decision. I believe that this decision is grossly unfair and unethical and requires the intervention of the regulatory authorities in Saint Lucia and the OECS. Since my public condemnation of the decision, customers in Saint Lucia and Barbados have shared the same experience and have sent proof of their claim. See enclosure.
I am a postpaid Digicel customer, with a credit limit of $500.00 monthly. This is easily verifiable through my telephone number, 1758 720-4992. Prior to an exchange of tweets with @DigicelStLucia, on Saturday, August 8, 2015, I thought I had an unlimited data plan. According to @DigicelStLucia, no such plan exists (but that will be for another time).
When I publicly expressed my displeasure via Facebook and Twitter, the following response came from @DigicelStLucia: “Its an app which works best on Wi-Fi, and for data apps, we provide access through our data plans.” My interpretation of “best on Wi-Fi” does not translate to ONLY on Wi-Fi. “Best on Wi-Fi”, in my view will affect the quality of the call or the length of time it takes to connect. “Best on Wi-Fi”, to my mind does not lead to a notification from WhatsApp informing that my cellular network PREVENTS WhatsApp calls.
I think you would be interested in noting this further tweet by @DigicelStLucia, “We can send you a link stating how Whatsapp has designed their app to work. It will differ from one company to another.” Of course, this was in response to my message that the calls are allowed on the Lime Network, without any Wi-Fi connection. Basic research on “How do I use WhatsApp Calling” from www.whatsapp.com reveals,
“WhatsApp Calling lets you call your friends and family using WhatsApp for free, even if they’re in another country. Currently, WhatsApp Calling is available on Android, iPhone, Windows Phone and BlackBerry 10.
WhatsApp Calling uses your phone’s Internet connection rather than your cellular plan’s voice minutes. Data charges may apply.
Please note: you can’t access 911 and other emergency service numbers through WhatsApp. You must make alternative communication arrangements to make emergency calls.” (https://www.whatsapp.com/faq/en/android/28000016)
Whereas this is not a service I use very often, I can attest that I have used the WhatsApp calling feature on both my Lime and Digicel data plans in the past, with no connection to Wi-Fi. Therefore, I am left to believe that these calls have been disabled by Digicel.
I believe this is unfair. I seek your urgent attention and intervention on this matter. In the meantime, I will be encouraging a public campaign on this issue, to ensure it does not rest at the bottom of your files.
Yours sincerely,
………………………..
Jadia Jn. Pierre
cc Mr. Ignatius Jean, Chairman, Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL)
Senator, Hon. Dr. James Fletcher, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Saint Lucia
Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General, OECS
Mrs. Holly Hughes-McNamara, Digicel St Lucia Limited
The Issue
To force Digicel to rethink their anti-consumer decision, banning users from calling on WhatsApp
Many Saint Lucians believe they have been abused for years at the hands of wireless phone providers with high monthly fees and annoying limits on texts and voice calls. WhatsApp Calling lets you call your friends and family using WhatsApp for free, even if you are in another country. Currently, telecommunication provider Digicel has blocked users from making free calls on WhatsApp. Now WhatsApp, the popular mobile messaging service owned by Facebook, WhatsApp Calling feature is comparable to Skype and FaceTime.
The basic principles of Net Neutrality says, “The core principles of Net Neutrality must be adhered to, and that user rights on the Internet need to be protected”. According to Wikipedia, net neutrality is the principle that Internet service providers and governments should treat all data on the Internet equally, not discriminating or charging differentially by user, content, site, platform, application, type of attached equipment, and modes of communication.
Saint Lucians should then be very concerned about, the fact that they pay for WhatsApp annually or every 2 years and subscribing to DIGICEL’s data packages, which allow Saint Lucians to access to the internet and mobile based services WHATSAPP is authorized by their respective application download portal be it Google Play Store, the Apple App Store, or even the BlackBerry World app store, these applications were developed, scrutinized by the respective platforms, they were developed for and AUTHORIZED for download by the public. Corporation like WhatsApp makes millions a year off of their service which many Saint Lucians pay for, then to be slapped by DIGICEL’s demands? We need to defend our right to utilize the data we pay for any way we see fit.
Digicel should not be allowed to ban WhatsApp calling! If so they should also ban Facebook Calling. This is unfair, the fact that we pay Digicel data plans for internet on our mobiles devices, it matters little if it stresses the bandwidth. We pay for a plan which include a specific bandwidth so we expect to use what we pay for. Digicel should stop immediately and allow users to make WhatsApp calls.
We have had a monopoly for many years and now we have a voice, we encourage every Saint Lucian to join the cause and let telecommunication companies know that the monopoly is OVER. We the users expect to be treated fairly and be allowed to use the services we pay for. WE WIIL NOT BE SHORTCHANGED!
Sign the petition below if you are in favor of Digicel allowing WHATSAPP calling! If Digicel fails to acknowledge our Petition we will encourage Saint Lucians to support LIME!!
Concerned Citizen
JADIA JN. PIERRE
GRACE, VIEUX-FORT
SAINT LUCIA
1(758)720-4992 jadiajnpierre@yahoo.com 1(758) 285-5631
August 10, 2015
Mr. Jerome Jules,
Chairman,
National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission,
1st and 2nd floor,
Rajana Group of Companies Building,
Bois D'Orange,
Gros-Islet,
SAINT LUCIA.
Dear Mr. Jules,
RE: BLOCKING OF WHATSAPP CALLS ON THE DIGICEL NETWORK
I write to officially register my discontent with the decision taken by Digicel to block WhatsApp calls on its network. Whereas it has been brought to my attention that Digicel has taken the same position on all Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, I can only make a case for that which I can present evidence of.
On Saturday, August 8, 2015, at approximately, 9:40am, I attempted to make a call via WhatsApp. After attempts to connect, the following message popped up on my screen: “Couldn’t place call because your phone’s cellular network prevents WhatsApp calls. Try connecting to Wi-Fi and call again.” At 2:43pm on the same day, I tried again and the result was the same. I have enclosed screenshots of the message as proof of my claim.
There is no better way to express it, but to simply say, I have a problem with this decision. I believe that this decision is grossly unfair and unethical and requires the intervention of the regulatory authorities in Saint Lucia and the OECS. Since my public condemnation of the decision, customers in Saint Lucia and Barbados have shared the same experience and have sent proof of their claim. See enclosure.
I am a postpaid Digicel customer, with a credit limit of $500.00 monthly. This is easily verifiable through my telephone number, 1758 720-4992. Prior to an exchange of tweets with @DigicelStLucia, on Saturday, August 8, 2015, I thought I had an unlimited data plan. According to @DigicelStLucia, no such plan exists (but that will be for another time).
When I publicly expressed my displeasure via Facebook and Twitter, the following response came from @DigicelStLucia: “Its an app which works best on Wi-Fi, and for data apps, we provide access through our data plans.” My interpretation of “best on Wi-Fi” does not translate to ONLY on Wi-Fi. “Best on Wi-Fi”, in my view will affect the quality of the call or the length of time it takes to connect. “Best on Wi-Fi”, to my mind does not lead to a notification from WhatsApp informing that my cellular network PREVENTS WhatsApp calls.
I think you would be interested in noting this further tweet by @DigicelStLucia, “We can send you a link stating how Whatsapp has designed their app to work. It will differ from one company to another.” Of course, this was in response to my message that the calls are allowed on the Lime Network, without any Wi-Fi connection. Basic research on “How do I use WhatsApp Calling” from www.whatsapp.com reveals,
“WhatsApp Calling lets you call your friends and family using WhatsApp for free, even if they’re in another country. Currently, WhatsApp Calling is available on Android, iPhone, Windows Phone and BlackBerry 10.
WhatsApp Calling uses your phone’s Internet connection rather than your cellular plan’s voice minutes. Data charges may apply.
Please note: you can’t access 911 and other emergency service numbers through WhatsApp. You must make alternative communication arrangements to make emergency calls.” (https://www.whatsapp.com/faq/en/android/28000016)
Whereas this is not a service I use very often, I can attest that I have used the WhatsApp calling feature on both my Lime and Digicel data plans in the past, with no connection to Wi-Fi. Therefore, I am left to believe that these calls have been disabled by Digicel.
I believe this is unfair. I seek your urgent attention and intervention on this matter. In the meantime, I will be encouraging a public campaign on this issue, to ensure it does not rest at the bottom of your files.
Yours sincerely,
………………………..
Jadia Jn. Pierre
cc Mr. Ignatius Jean, Chairman, Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL)
Senator, Hon. Dr. James Fletcher, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Saint Lucia
Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General, OECS
Mrs. Holly Hughes-McNamara, Digicel St Lucia Limited
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on August 10, 2015