SingTel apologises for mio TV service disruptions
<TBODY> </TBODY> <TBODY> </TBODY> CEO for SingTel's consumer division in Singapore, Yuen Kuan Moon, said some customers "experienced intermittent viewing difficulties" on May 13, between approximately 10pm and midnight. This was due to an unprecedented number of viewers tuning in for the season finale. At its peak, there were ten matches playing concurrently. SingTel said the close links between two of the main matches saw a high number of customers switching repeatedly between channels at unusually high frequency. The switching volumes were five times higher than usual, and the surge caused the system to slow. Its engineers took immediate action to rectify the problem. SingTel said it was moving urgently to enhance its switching system to ensure future peaks are accommodated. mio TV customers located around Ang Mo Kio, Toa Payoh, Tampines, Bukit Panjang and Central areas were potentially affected. mio TV subscribers had complained of repeated interruptions during the "live" telecast of the matches between Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers and simultaneous coverage of the match between Sunderland and Manchester United. It was the last 10 minutes of the important matches that infuriated many. Instead of the two late winning goals by EPL champions Manchester City, all fans saw were frozen frames of the finale. Subscribers to mio TV's online package, however, were not affected. Upset mio TV customers raged online, with some demanding compensation. Viewers also said a purple screen appeared many times during the season, while past coverage of the FA Cup and Carling Cup was also interrupted. They said poor transmission has been a consistent problem with mio TV. Matthew Soh lamented that the match he was watching was muted all the way. To make matters worse, Manchester United fan Lucas Karl Xavier said that he dialled SingTel's customer hotline, only to hang up after he was put on hold for 20 minutes. |
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