Telem Group is in the advanced stages of several new projects that wil greatly improve the company’s ability to provide superior telecommunication services to customers.
During a press conference at the company’s main office on Thursday July 29th 2010, Chief Financial Officer Mrs.Helma Etnel said among the projects are:
a brand new billing system
a new 3G network
migration to a new Soft Switch to provide a new set of IP services to customers
increased bandwidth from Smitcoms
expansion of Telem Group services into other destinations- including the Dominican Republic
”This is a very exciting time for us at Telem Group & we are able to talk about some of these projects because we are at the advance stages of implementation” said Mrs.Etnel.
She said equipement for the company’s new MIND Billing system was installed several months ago & a team of employees have been training on & testing the new software for the past month.
The new billing system is expected to go ‘live’ before the end of the year.
”The new billing system is critical for the way we intend to offer products & services to our customers in the future. We can finally realize our goal to be a one-stop-shop for telecommunication services” said the CFO.
She said the installation of a new Soft Switch is also currently under way noting this will form the foundation of a new 3G network that will provide a host of new features & services for mobile & data users.
”Our international & leaseline service provider, Smitcoms, will be providing additional bandwith in the coming months & will shortly be making other announcements about developments in Curacao & the DOminican Republic, both areas that our services are expanding into further” she continued.
She said the fuel driving the new initiatives of Telem Group is the company’s updated Strategic Plan into which personnel have played an integral part.
”With the assistance of a telecommunication consulting company we have carried out the widest & deepest company-wide brainstorming session & come up with some simple strategies to increase our share of the local & regional market & also to ensure the continued profitablility of the island’s incumbent telecommunication operator” contiuned Mrs.Etnel.
”The part personnel have played & continue to play is important. It is also significant that we have recently signed three agreements with the union representing Telem Group personnel: A new CLA, a Transition Agreement & a Social Plan.” said Mrs.Etnel.
She said new training sessions & workshops for personnel are planned & will be taking place shortly in a more aggressive business atmosphere at Telem Group.
Mrs.Etnel informed that the current changes will inevitably lead to interruptions in service while hardware & software is being installed & assured that all efforts are being taken to make all necessary changes as seamless as possible.
”We plan to carry out all work behind the scenes without customers being affected in any way, however, as we saw the lightning strike to four cell sites a fortnight ago, you can never plan for all eventualities” stated Mrs.Etnel.
Regarding the damaged cell sites, Chief Commercial Officer Mr.Brian Mingo said all sites have been restored to make them operational, however more work will have to be carried out on the the four sites with the replacement & addition of other equipment.
He said the company’s Commercial Department is preparing a major blitz of products & services before year end involving more competitive rates & new packages for customers that will bring home the one-stop-shop concept that has alluded the company for years.
”The new billing system is an important tool,” said Mr.Mingo.
”Blackberry has been a tremendous success for us, especially pre-paid & now we are ready to go to the next stage by providing our youth & other social network users with services geared towards the way they work & communicate with each other” said Mr.Mingo.
He said service is launching with the company’s new ”BB Social” in which reduced rates are charged for users of the social network sites such as Facebook, Myspace & Twitter on any Blackberry smartphone purchased from Telem Group’s mobile provider Telcell.