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.

Ethio Telecom Closed to Sign Network Upgrade Contract with Chinese Vendors:

Ethiopia's state-owned monopoly telco, Ethio Telecom is reportedly close to signing a major network upgrade contract with either ZTE or Huawei.

The company first revealed that it was in talks with unnamed bidders for a network upgrade contract last December. It was also announced at the time that the contract would include LTE coverage in the capital city, and HSPA+ in the big cities by 2015.

It was also recently reported that the contract would include the stripping out of decade old Nokia supplied equipment in the capital city.

"We are now poised to start the expansion. We are almost on the final stage on dealing with  ZTE and Huawei," Debretsion Gebremichael, Ethiopia's deputy prime minister and minister of communications and technology told the Reuters news agency.

"In a few weeks we will conclude the agreement and we will start the expansion," he added.

Abdurahim Ahmed, head of Public Relations with Ethio Telecom has previously said that the company aims to double its subscriber base to 40 million as part of the network upgrades.