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Rogers down for 3 hours due to software glitch

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Rogers wireless has approximately $9.42 million wireless customers and all of them were down between 6:00 PM and 10:30 PM. The most interesting part is that voice and SMS were down, however DATA was up and running.

The apparent software glitch was due to heavy traffic and was not handled properly by the switching system causing a major crash. There have been no specific reports of how the software works and what it has to do with switches. The assumption is that there is a two way system where one voice is carried over and the other signals between the towers, therefore when you are driving it makes sure that it switches you over to the nearest tower to you. Allegedly that’s what failed which caused the primary system to run into a loop.

There is an underlying denial that hacking was involved taking down the system.

Current result and resolution is the update of the current software thats being used (fixing the hole) and giving all the postpaid subscribers a day of service refund (if you are paying $30 monthly, you would get $1 discount on your next bill).

The most disturbing factor in all of this is that 911 was not functioning. Interesting part is that Rogers recommends users of having a land line if they are required to make 911 phone calls. Who has a land line anymore?

PRO TIP: If your provider is ever down, take out your sim card, reboot the phone and let the phone roam on any network to make that important 911 call. Hopefully, you can do all of these steps while in an emergency situation. Or get a Bell land line.

Rogers Wireless Home Phone

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An interesting email appeared in my inbox from Rogers Wireless which is one of the big 3 telecom providers out here in Canada. Their offer:

Wireless Home Phone Plan for $9.99 – (includes: Unlimited Canada Wide Calling, Call Display, Enhanced Voice mail)

I was impressed, and noticed that the service was not available until July 23rd (the email was received few days prior).

On July 23rd, I went to a local Rogers Store. I was asked if I was a current Rogers subscriber, I responded that I was. I provided my current wireless number. The clerk retrieved a device, placed it on the counter. The cost for the device was $29.99+tax (no contract). I paid for the device via credit card. The clerk had asked if I wanted to port a phone number. The number I provided to be ported was from FreePhoneLine (now known as Fongo). The system immediately accepted the port and apparently my port date was scheduled 5 days later. That was that. Well not really. (Porting Issues)

The device was easy to put together, there was a SIM card and a backup battery. The SIM card is the standard size and there was a label of LTE on it.

Wireless Home phone worked immediately. The router (or home phone device) has two telephone jacks in the back, a usb port and a power button. I had a wireless base that I hooked up to it and oddly enough an old Bell telephone taking up the second port.

The sound quality is superb. Its been a couple of weeks now, and I have not had any drop calls, no static, no issues. Nothing! The price point is incredible and will surely get attention from the Cogeco and Bell in areas such as Oakville and Burlington.


The target market is for areas where Rogers is unable to provide their regular Home Phone service.

 

UPDATE (Aug 28): The other party seems to hear a banging noise that lasts about 10 seconds and then it goes away. On my end I hear a tiny barely noticeable clicking sound, but apparently its really loud on the other end. I have the unit 200 meters away from the nearest electronic device (I have tried two different locations, and same result). It could be the wireless phone base? Another odd piece of information is that the problem doesn’t occur on every phone call. I can’t figure out what the heck it is. Anyone else experiencing this? Please comment.

UPDATE (Sept 11): I have swapped the current V-tech cordless phones and upgraded to Panasonic cordless phones. Both sets were DECT 6.0 and therefore I’m unsure if the knocking was coming from the handset or actual ZTE Home Phone device. Thus far with the new cordless phones there has not been any noise.