An internet research into the operations of TelOne Zimbabwe

1. TELONE ZIMBABWE
An Internet Research
ABSTRACT
TelOne is one of the several Telecoms
companies operating in the Zimbabwean
telecommunications and technology
industry. Its main core business revolves
around voice, data and internet products
and services.
Denford Kambarami
dkambarami@gmail.com

2. TelOne Zimbabwe – An Internet Research by Denford Kambarami Page 1
Contents
TelOne Zimbabwe................................................................................................................................................2
1.1 Introduction..........................................................................................................................................2
1.2 Ownership............................................................................................................................................2
1.3 Subscriber Base ..................................................................................................................................2
1.4 Competition..........................................................................................................................................2
2. Products.......................................................................................................................................................2
2.1 Fixed Landline .....................................................................................................................................2
2.2 ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line).......................................................................................3
2.3 CDMA...................................................................................................................................................3
2.4 VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal)................................................................................................3
2.5 Fiber-Optic...........................................................................................................................................3
3. Prepaid Billing System (ADSL only) ...........................................................................................................4
4. FTS Convergence Billing System ...............................................................................................................4
5. Customer Service ........................................................................................................................................5
6. Marketing Strategies....................................................................................................................................5
7. Debt Collection.............................................................................................................................................5
8. Human Resources.......................................................................................................................................5
9. Challenges ...................................................................................................................................................5
10. References...............................................................................................................................................6

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TelOne Zimbabwe
1.1 Introduction
TelOne is one of the several Telecoms companies operating in the Zimbabwean telecommunications and
technology industry. Its main core business revolves around voice, data and internet products and services.
TelOne owns a wide range of telecommunications equipment, varying from various exchanges located in
strategic areas, optical fibre networks, radio network systems plus a wide range of high-tech networks
including a satellite base station located in Mazowe area of Mashonaland Central Province in Zimbabwe. The
company is headquartered in Harare's central business district. Set an ambitious 4% growth target by end of
2015.
1.2 Ownership
The telecoms company is 100% owned by the government of Zimbabwe. It is run bu the Ministry of Minister
of Information Technology and Courier Services. The company is led by a board of directors who are
appointed by the ministry. This board is led by a board chairperson, executive board members and non-
executive board members.
1.3 Subscriber Base
Year Voice ADSL Fibre*
2009 325,000
2013 301,650
2015 300,000 38,640 20 000
1.4 Competition
The number of landline subscribers continuously decreases due to upgrades in digital technology and the
conveniences that come with switching to wireless (cellular) or Internet-based alternatives. The rise in cell
phones has outpaced any rise in landline telephones
 VOIP providers
 Mobile Operators
2. Products
2.1 Fixed Landline
 fixed landline services to residential and corporate clients
 overhead cable system (copper)
 Codeless phone.

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2.2 ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line)
ADSL is a high speed Internet access service that utilizes copper telephone links to send and receive data.
 high speed internet access service (broadband)
 utilizes copper telephone links to send and receive data
 using the same telephone cables which maintain a permanent connection
Its main features include;
 High speed always on internet broadband
 No need for a second line and hence avoid unnecessary monthly line charges
2.3 CDMA
 wireless landline connection
 Gives voice, data and internet users more flexibility and mobility.
Its features are;
 Caller ID.
 Conference Calling
 Operates within a 20 km radius from any base station
 PC and telephone interface
2.4 VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal)
VSAT is capable of reaching very remote locations and is particularly useful in areas where communications
infrastructure is limited or non-existent.
2.5 Fiber-Optic
 TelOne has the second largest fibre network in the country after Liquid Telecoms
 fibre cable from Mozambique to Zimbabwe
 providing state of the art internet services for the consumers
 The fibre-optic cable connecting Harare and Beitbridge via Bulawayo was also part of this initiative
 This fibre extends to areas like Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare, Kariba, Masvingo and Gwanda
 TelOne has set a target of 20,000 household fibre connections through the Gigabit Passive Optical
Network (GPON)

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Table 1-Potraz 2012
Fibre Owner Km Comments
Liquid Telecom 2,900
TelOne 2,541
Powertel 950
Africom 520
3. Prepaid Billing System (ADSL only)
 prepaid capped one for the ADSL product
 enabled customers to monitor usage of data
 less convenient as they would be required to pay in advance
 TelOne has successfully implemented FTS’ Leap Billing system
 a comprehensive end-to-end billing and customer care solution
 Customers had to visit shops to renew their connections
 Single bill summarizing all services they use like the fixed telephony, ADSL and CDMA telephony
 The company’s ADSL service starts at US $30 a month for a 10GB data bundle coming on a 256Kbps
pipe
 Physical prepaid recharge cards for their ADSL broadband service. The recharge cards come in $25,
$45, $85 and $160 denominations which have data caps of 10GB, 25GB, 50GB and unlimited data
respectively (basic, silver, gold and platinum classification)
 The data bundle is valid for 30 days
ADSL Package Cost & Metric Comment (All bundles are valid for 30 days)
Basic 10 GB 256kpbs Entry level broadband. It enables users to retrieve e-mails,
surfing the Internet and do online transactions such as e-
banking.
Silver More data speed. Consumers can use the package to retrieve
e-mails, surf Internet, online transactions, online gaming,
download software and application, and stream videos.
Gold 20GB 1Mbps It allows users to access e-mails, browse the Internet, online
gaming, online payments, video streaming, and download
software, music files or videos.
Platinum 2Mbps The package is ideal for heavy users for accessing e-mails,
browsing the Internet, online payments and gaming as well as
watching videos online, video streaming, downloading music
files or videos
4. FTS Convergence Billing System
 convergent billing and charging, interconnect billing, invoicing, order management, customer
management, network management, mediation

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 on-going support and service,
 new packages and services can now be created at the speed of marketing by TelOne
 providing customers with a single bill summarizing all the services they use from their subscription
packages, including fixed telephony, Internet and wireless
 offering subscribers a single point of contact for all their queries;
 FTS’ Interconnect solution, ensuring accounting accuracy of TelOne’s growing roaming and
interconnect revenues
5. Customer Service
 Customer Service Centers in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutare, Marondera, Kwekwe, Kadoma and
Rusape
 FTS Customer Service System
6. Marketing Strategies
 debts cancellation initiative with the hope of introducing new measures to collect its revenues from
the consumers
 Also partnered with Telecel to enable customers to pay telephone bills with Telecash (MMT)
 Reluctance to move with the times and adopt the current strategies in marketing its products
7. Debt Collection
 Poor quality of products and services
 Issued letters through its debt collectors to its overdue account holders giving them three day
ultimatums to pay up or face the risk of property attachment
 Strategies to get government to pay
8. Human Resources
 Operates TelOne Centre for Learning
 Offers diplomas in Transmission, Networking and Switching
 Partnering NUST (Local university) in technology degrees
9. Challenges
 the obsolescence of the old copper wire networking
 In developing countries it is more difficult to install landline copper that is accessible to everyone
than it is to install mobile wireless towers that people can connect to from anywhere.
 slow response time for setups

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10. References
http://www.fts-soft.com/category/telone-deploys-fts-convergent-billing
http://www.pindula.co.zw/index.php?title=National_University_for_Science_and_Technology&action=edit&r
edlink=1
http://zimbabwe24sevennews.blogspot.com/ (TelOne introduces prepaid billing system)
http://www.telone.co.zw/
file:///Y:/Personal/Enterprise_Applications_Manager/Telone_System/Zimbabwe's%20TelOne%20upgrades
%20billing%20system%20%20%20commsmea.com_files/Zimbabwe's%20TelOne%20upgrades%20billing
%20system%20%20%20commsmea.com.html
http://http//www.telone.co.zw/about/telone-centre-for-learning
http://www.techzim.co.zw/2015/01/voice-services-fibre-telone-going-get-groove-back/#content
*all references accessed between March and April 2015