Telecom Industry Under ‘Revolution'

Windhoek - Companies can now cut their telephone costs by up to 30% with the launch of TelePassport's cutting-edge GSM Least Cost Routing (LCR) communication service in Namibia.

Speaking at the launch of the company last week, Managing Director Phillip Stier said that TelePassport's reputable Fixed Cellular Least Cost Routing technology reduces communication costs by routing local cellular-bound voice calls directly into MTC's GSM cellular network. Essentially, this means converting your switchboard-to-mobile calls into mobile-to-mobile calls, thereby drastically reducing the cost of telephone bills as mobile-to-mobile calls are much cheaper than switchboard-to-mobile calls.

Says Stier: “As a leader in the LCR arena, TelePassport focuses on transparently maximising all possible savings on corporate telecommunication systems. Cellphone calls are rapidly becoming the single biggest communications expense in southern Africa and properly routed, this is one of the easiest ways to improve your bottom line with no impact on operating procedures or efficiency. No doubt, our communication solution is a win-win situation that makes perfect business sense.”

To achieve communication savings through TelePassport's LCR solution, a fixed Cellular Terminal (FCT) with SIM card is connected to the customer's “switchboard” or PABX. “We are very fortunate in this regard as we've established a joint working agreement with a number of leading telecoms suppliers, including Bytes Technologies, Siemens and Telkom-Ericsson. We're also delighted with MTC's approval and support of our LCR solution, which at the end of the day translates to better service and more savings for the consumer,” notes Stier.

As part of the service-focused TelePassport LCR solution, customers receive their monthly telephone bill electronically and free of charge, directly from TelePassport, with a detailed listing of savings on every call. Additionally, the TelePassport bill includes a graph for easy reference, which indicates the individual and cumulative savings of calls made during the month. All billing is available online, 24/7 at TelePassport's customer zone on their website, www.telepassport.com.na.

LCR has been standard practice in many parts of the world since the early nineties. In Southern Africa, TelePassport has been the undisputed leader in the International LCR market since 1993, and at the forefront of the Cellular LCR field, which first emerged in South Africa in 1997.

“As a proudly African communications company, we understand the unique challenges of the industry and our continent, and have a history of success in meeting these challenges. Part of our success lies in providing transparent, value-for-money communication solutions, and building and maintaining a loyal customer base through superior service levels, attention to detail, and measurable results” says Stier.

Expressing his excitement with regards to TelePassport's establishment in Namibia, Stier notes that TelePassport Namibia is BEE compliant and a truly Namibian company with majority local shareholding. “We've also applied for Team Namibia membership,” says Stier.

“We're transferring our experience and expertise in the LCR market to a hand-picked team of Namibians to establish a Namibian company with the aim of building and maintaining a loyal customer base. Moreover, this service-driven company and its staff are tasked with maintaining a first class level of service delivery in this sector of Namibia's telecoms industry, as a proud partner in Africa and strong competitor in the rest of the world,” says Stier. “Soon TelePassport South Africa will be able to learn and benefit from TelePassport Namibia, as both companies will share expertise and grow stronger together.”

Speaking at the lunch that was attended by high-ranking government officials and business leaders, Information and Broadcasting Minister Nangolo Mbumba said third-party telecommunications developments and value-added products, such as Least Cost Routing were huge globally, creating jobs and fuelling economic progress. “As is the case in most industries, competition can only help the consumer and promote development and growth of new technologies and serves, such as this. I am confident that this will also be the case in Namibia,” he stated.

He applauded the countries leading telecoms service providers such MTC, Bytes Technologies, Siemens and Telkom-Ericsson for allowing TelePassport to offer Namibian customers the advantage of reduced telephone bills. “The Government of Namibia welcomes and encourages healthy and fair competition. With this in mind it created an enabling environment through policy and legislation for companies to compete. The consumers want value for their money and the best product at the most affordable price,” he Mbumba alluded.