Allied Telesis still seeking telecom stability at Yokota

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Allied Telesis representatives Bruse Green and Kiyomi Green monitor computerized telephone equipment in the company's administration office last year at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The company has had its share of growing pains since signing a contract with AAFES two years ago to provide voice, video and data services at the base.


Allied Telesis still seeking telecom stability at Yokota
By Vince Little, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Sunday, October 19, 2008

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — After a somewhat rocky first two years, Yokota’s cable TV, Internet and telephone provider has shored up recent problems and anticipates a "long history" at the base, its chief executive officer said.

Keith Southard, head of Allied Telesis Capital Corp. in San Jose, Calif., said in an e-mail to Stars and Stripes that he’s "extremely confident" about the project’s direction and that new initiatives will improve the quality and value of services.

But not only have there been technical issues and elusive timelines, officials now must placate a customer base that’s expressed considerable dissatisfaction with the service it’s received.

"We understand there are going to be growing pains," said Tech. Sgt. Fereeda Seunath, a south-area tower resident whose family was among the first to go online in March 2007. "We fill out trouble tickets and they’re prompt coming to fix problems. That wasn’t an issue. The problem is there are a lot of issues.

"But you don’t have options," Seunath added. "It’s not like you can walk in and go with another provider. It’s Allied Telesis or nothing."


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58225