Telecom Namibia cuts tariffs:

Telecom Namibia’s lower tariffs have come into effect.

From 1 December, the tariffs for international calls have dropped by an average of 9%, with local call costs down by up to 15%.

Telecom Namibia says in a statement: “We have made it our goal at Telecom Namibia to make telecommunication most affordable to consumers of our services and products.

It is a pleasure to announce the new reduced tariffs to our consumers for the 2013/14 financial year with effect from 1 December 2013. This is part of the company’s efforts to stimulate traffic to key international destinations and facilitate economic growth and development. It is also important to note that there have been reductions in international settlement rates over the past years and it is necessary to pass these savings to consumers in order to stimulate demand for international calling services.”

Peak tariff for calls to RSA mobile destinations have been slashed by 8% while the off-peak RSA mobile and RSA fixed call charges were kept unchanged.

Peak tariffs for calls to Angola, Germany, UK, Portugal, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Australia, France and Kenya have been cut by an average of 10% while off-peak tariffs to the same destinations will be lowered by average 8.5% for both fixed and mobile destinations.

Call tariffs for the USA and Rest of the World have been reduced by 9% both mobile and fixed line destinations.

Telecom Namibia: new billing system goes live

Telecom Namibia has gone live with a new customer billing system implemented in partnership with Huawei.

The telco said the system has been switched on at the weekend, and was intended to provide better customer service and experience through new and more exciting offers.

The New Generation Business Support System (NGBSS) solution was supplied by Huawei Technologies, a global provider of next generation telecommunications network solutions. Telecom Namibia said: “With this world-class NGBSS solution going live, Telecom Namibia  is now able to bill for its postpaid, prepaid and hybrid services in real-time, and in one single bill for all services. This provides Telecom Namibia with sustainable advantages of rapid time-to-market, cost efficiency, and enhanced customer experience in today’s competitive environment.

The new system enables the company to launch innovative and unique products and services to the market, reduce time to market for new products and more importantly address issues previously experienced by customers around billing.”

This solution suite, implemented based on applications of industry best practices, include Customer Relationship Management (CRM), IP Contact Centre (IPCC), Convergent Billing System (CBS), Partner Relationship Management (PRM), Mediation and Provisioning.

ZTE Won 3G-LTE Deployment Contract in Namibia:

Telecom Namibia said that it has awarded a US$46 million contract to ZTE to build a unified mobile network that will provide it's mobile subsidiary, Leo with a transformed 2G/3G/4G networks. Deployment is starting with immediate effect.

The contract entails the designing, planning, supply, delivery and implementation of GSM and LTE network infrastructure for Leo and Telecom Namibia.

Frans Ndoroma, Telecom Namibia Managing Directors, said, "This will result in a major enhancement of Leo's network quality and efficiency, enabling improved customer experience and richer applications on the mobile platform, and strengthening Leo's competitiveness."

Ndoroma said the deal is worth U$46 million and involves the rollout of base stations in three phases. This includes a number of road coverage sites throughout the country as well.

In terms of the contract, the project will deliver a converged switching platform for both fixed and mobile service with an IMS (IP multimedia systems) core for personal multi-media communications.

Ndoroma said building the Group's network on an IMS core platform will give customers a big advantage in terms of price and quality of service adding: "With this unique platform we will optimise time, resources, and results on all IP communication services - from fixed and mobile phone calls to Internet access, from social networks to email," he said.

Telecom Namibia's Debt Ratings Put on a Negative Outlook:

Fitch Ratings has affirmed Telecom Namibia Long-term local currency debt rating at 'BBB-' and National Long-term rating of 'A(zaf)'. The Outlooks are Negative.

The affirmation continues to reflect the one notch differential of Telecom Namibia's ratings with those of the Namibian sovereign's local currency debt rating of 'BBB'/Stable. Under Fitch's parent and subsidiary rating linkage methodology, Telecom Namibia has legal, operational and strategic links with the state of Namibia, which has secured Telecom Namibia's debt in the past and provided financial guarantees.

The Negative Outlook signals Fitch's concern that the standalone credit profile is weakening and if this decline is severe, without early indications of support from the government, it may result in a multi-notch widening between Telecom Namibia and the Namibian government to reflect more imminent liquidity concerns. 

Telecom Namibia Rebranded Mobile Subsidiary:

The Namibian mobile network operator, Leo had adopted the brandname of its landline operator parent, Telecom Namibia and is to be known as TM Mobile.

Telecom managing director Frans Ndoroma said his company acquired Powercom, which traded as Leo last year and the board of directors and management decided to give it a vibrant new brand; TN Mobile.

"The unveiling of the TN Mobile brand is aimed at supporting the Telecom Namibia Group's strategic direction. The introduction of a new brand also represents the beginning of the end of Leo branding across our operations," Ndoroma explained.

The former Leo website is already redirecting visitors to the Telecom Namibia website.

Leo was owned by Telecel Globe, a subsidiary of Egypt's Orascom Telecom and was sold to a consortium of banks for US$60 million in 2011, before being bought by Telecom Namibia, for a reportedly paltry amount in November 2012.

Telecom Namibia is 100% owned by the government and competes with MTC, which has a 90% market share of the mobile market, and is also 64% owned by the government.