Lamin, These problems still comes down to my point . As soon as they know(International operator) that you're willing to pay more, you' were able to get through. Your local phone company leases a circuit from one of the BIG THREE (AT&T, SPRINT and MCI) for subscribers. I used to work for Gamtel, and especially at the "Operations and Maintenance Center" which is called "OMC." I remembered once upon a time that we used to have certain numbers of "incoming and outgoing circuits" which I still believed are available. If Gamtel can't increase the circuits, they wouldn't decrease them either. One has to understand the whole trick played by the telecommunications industries. Once you signed for a service(both local and international) you should not have a problem. They(local phone companies) look at your calling rate and base on that they conclude there decisions on subscribers. Just take a moment and ask yourself , why, why should I pay extra when I already signed for long distance service? We can either agree or dis-agree but this is what's happening. EB. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lamin B Jammeh" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Sunday, December 24, 2000 3:30 PM Subject: Re: Gambia Phones Working? > Gambia-L, > I want to agree with some of the suggestions that the problem probably is as > a result of the volume of calls going into the Gambia from around the world. > Because of Gamtel's inability to cope with such huge call volumes,one spends > a whole day trying to get through to someone in Gambia but all he/she hears > is an engage tone or no ringing tone at all. > > Couple of days ago, i had an important call from Gambia that i should call a > certain individual and its urgent! I tried for 3hrs but to no avail using a > communications company which i normally use to call home and has been working > until that day. > > Out of deperation, I tried using my home phone knowing it'll cost me a > fortune I still went ahead to dial thinking I will go through at once I was > wrong! I spend another good half hour still no success. I then phone my phone > company complaing that I have been trying to call Gambia but could not go > through.I then was put through to the International operator who informed me > that there will be a charge if he put me through which I agree cos I had no > choice. > > Amazingly,it was a matter of seconds b4 I heard the phone ringing! I had to > do this on three occasions cos I needed to speak to three different people. > > So i really want to believe that Gamtel has to try and work on that so people > can be able to speak to their families whenever they wish to. I know its > difficult for them, but that's the reality and we've got to accept it! I'm > other people who live here in The UK will tell you a similar thing so I > really do not think its got much to do with calling card companies. > > Merry Christmas to our Christian friends and to Muslims, Eid Mubarak. > > Lamin B Jammeh. > Bedford,UK. > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- > > To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L > Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html > You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] > if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------