Bezeq Israeli Telecommunication Co. Ltd. (TASE: BEZQ) mobile phone unit Pelephone Communications Ltd. CEO Guron told "Globes" today that in the coming days, Pelephone would put all of its customers who were upgraded to its new network back on its old network, until it is finally decided how to continue the upgrade. Goran said that in view of the malfunctions that took place last week, yesterday, and today, Pelephone would reconsider compensation for its customers. The company last week announced 10 days ago that it would give customers who suffered a specific malfunction a free week of surfing.
Disruptions occurring in Pelephone's network yesterday and today prevented the company from conducting and receive regular calls. The malfunction on Sunday last week lasted for four days and affected a large proportion of the company's customers.
Guron emphasized to "Globes" that the network was stable at the moment. Together with HPE, a fellow subsidiary split off from HP, Pelephone is working to ensure that the network remains stable until all of the customers are returned to the old network, which has worked without malfunctions or problems for years and is available for repeated use.
The customers affected were moved to an upgraded HLR switch in a long process that took 18 months. Guron said that a manufacturer's bug had been discovered in the switch and efforts were being made to find it, but that no solution had yet been found. As long as this situation persists, the malfunctions could theoretically recur, and the company is doing everything to keep the network stable.
Guron explained that the upgraded switch had also been installed at communications company AT&T, and that at this stage, it was unknown how long it would take to return the subscribers to the old network. In any case, however, it was agreed with HPE that this is the right thing to do at this stage. He added that he was in connection with people at the highest levels at HP, and that they were unable to explain the source of the malfunction.
At 10:05 this morning, Pelephone announced, "The disruptions that began this morning have ended as of now. The company's engineering teams and experts from HPE are continuing to monitor and follow the network's performance."
Pelephone customers reported yesterday afternoon that they were experiencing difficulty in making and receiving calls. A report by one of the company's customers showed that he was unable to make or receive calls, leading to the conclusions that another malfunction had occurred in the company's network a few days after a major disruption had already occurred.
The malfunction was apparently also in the HLR switch, the same switch involved in the previous malfunction, in which something began to fail. Pelephone's HLR switch was made by HP. Pelephone used its old CDMA network and its 4G network simultaneously.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 12, 2018
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2018