Minister threatens to suspend TIM sales.

247 – Constantly appearing on the lists of consumer protection agencies in various states, the TIM mobile operator was threatened with having its sales suspended if the signal quality of its services does not improve. The warning came directly from the Minister of Communications, Paulo Bernardo: "Either TIM invests and improves its service, or we will prohibit the sale of new plans."

The minister is demanding that the company accelerate investments in its networks in order to improve service quality in some regions. According to the minister, "in six or seven states" the operator's service is far from ideal.

TIM responded to Paulo Bernardo's statements with a press release, in which it stated that it was unaware of the information regarding the signing of the agreement with Anatel. The mobile phone operator emphasized that monitoring service provision is a routine practice of the agency with companies in the sector. "The operator is available to the regulatory body to address any deficiencies that may affect a mobile operator's network," the document states.

In June, TIM was the second most complained-about company in São Paulo's consumer protection agency (Procon-SP). Since January, the agency has received 5.713 complaints or requests for guidance regarding problems with cell phones. Of these, 1.385 complaints relate to TIM. The main problems are charges for unsolicited services, services not provided, including signal loss and internet speeds below what was contracted.

On social media, internet users have already edited the photo of the character Gabriela, played by Juliana Paes in the Globo series, to mock the poor signal from the mobile operator. In the original image, Gabriela is on a roof with a kite in her hand. In the altered version, she is holding a cell phone and a phrase interprets her speech: "I got a TIM signal!!!"