More service disruptions on Wednesday: etisalat

For the second time in 48 hours, etisalat alerted its subscribers about more “short service disruptions”, for a network upgrade.

The first set of upgrades was carried out early on Monday morning between 2am and 3am. In a new SMS on Tuesday, etisalat said there would be more disruptions on Wednesday morning.

“In our constant endeavour to provide you with the latest technology and unmatched network quality, an upgrade to our network will be done on October 13, 2010. You may experience short service disruptions between 2am and 3am due to network upgrade. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause,” read the alert.

A company spokesperson had told 'Emirates 24|7' that it was part of a regular process that happens periodically. “We have specifically timed it at an hour when the traffic is really low.  The hourly upgrades will continue until all the networks are covered,” said the official.

Earlier the spokesperson had said there was nothing unusual. “It is also not for any special addition of any latest service. It is for a regular update.”

Meanwhile, according to reports, etisalat is said to soon launch a second pilot project to test the NFC (Near Field Communication) technology. Using the technology, available on Samsung’s touchscreen smartphone, subscribers can make their utility payments through the phone. The reading device has been installed in about 1,000 outlets across the UAE.