MTN Uganda moves to electronic vouchers with Dimension Data solution

Issued by Dimension Data South Africa

Johannesburg, 02 Aug 2001

MTN Uganda is set to deliver on its promise of superior customer service following an intensive IT project featuring a customer-centric voucher management and distribution system from partners Dimension Data and bWyz Distribution.

This solution is part of the TalkWyz range of voucher management and distribution and prepaid top-up products.

The fully integrated solution will cater for general consumers, corporations and potential distribution partners, establishing MTN Uganda in all of its critical markets.

As part of the move to an electronic voucher system, MTN Uganda will slowly start phasing out the distribution of physical prepaid airtime vouchers, saving significant printing and distribution costs. In addition, a number of security activities required to distribute and manage physical vouchers in the market will be eliminated.

MTN Uganda`s clients - both dealers and subscribers - will enjoy a safer and more efficient service offering from the cellular network operator. In addition, MTN will soon be in a position to be far more receptive to market demand for flexible airtime purchases.

The decision to appoint Dimension Data and bWyz Distribution was based on the companies` ability to offer a full implementation, integration and support service. Their partnership brings together an experienced, global system integration company and a specialist product vendor.

The two companies approached MTN Uganda`s requirements from a business-focused perspective, with the resulting solution fulfilling the cellular service provider`s needs while catering for future growth.

Derek King, account manager at Dimension Data Service Provider Solutions, says: "Our systems integration experience combined with the bWyz partnership culminated in a comprehensive solution that will realise operational cost savings as well as cost-effectively allowing MTN Uganda to meet its sales and customer service objectives. The TalkWyz has been chosen based on its proven flexibility and scalability in addressing future demands such as voucherless recharging."

A phased implementation of the solution is allowing MTN Uganda to implement physical and virtual vouchers concurrently. The operational solution will provide full financial system functionality.

The solution devised by Dimension Data and bWyz Distribution will provide MTN Uganda with the following functionality:

. Management and tracking of physical vouchers from creation to activation with full audit controls;
. Management and distribution of electronic vouchers from product creation to activation through TalkWyzPRO (PC-based) and HandWyz (Ingenico handheld terminal);
. Financial management of external companies (debtors and creditors) involved in voucher manufacturing and distribution;
. Integration of TalkWyz into the current financial system and the prepaid system; and
. Comprehensive control and forecasting capabilities due to the reporting capabilities of the software suite.

Voucher Management

The introduction of electronic voucher management systems has raised the automation of prepaid service management to that of other Operational Support Systems (OSSs).

The current manual process of managing and distributing prepaid vouchers and service has proved wholly inadequate in the face of growing subscriber numbers. Consequently, service providers have to contend with reduced service levels and fraudulent activity at multiple levels of the distribution chain.

Typically, an effective solution consists of two parts:

1. Physical and electronic voucher management This supports and manages the traditional method of prepaid recharge and has been well accepted in the marketplace. The system handles the lifecycle management of physical and electronic vouchers.

It requires a pre-generated random PIN number and interfaces to the IN prepaid system to load the vouchers and to receive voucher activation records. Electronic voucher distribution, which handles the physical and electronic voucher management, also distributes electronic vouchers. It offers network, dial-up and Radio-pad connectivity to the distribution points, dealers and retail aggregators. The system also provides a detailed audit, security and rollback functionality.

2. Virtual recharge or balance top-up This method dispenses with vouchers and directly increases the subscriber balance by any amount. This is done from any location, eg where an appropriate point of sales (POS) device is located, third-parties, retail aggregators or banks.

To achieve this, the voucher management system is enhanced to handle virtual recharge. It enables operators to manage and track physical vouchers, and to manage and distribute electronic vouchers, from creation to activation. The system`s reporting and forecasting capabilities also provide comprehensive operational and financial controls.

Dimension Data`s view on voucher management It is believed that the virtual recharge or balance top-up method will become overwhelmingly predominant. Although the market is currently not ready to move away from vouchers completely, there is no doubt the shift will take place.

Dimension Data

Dimension Data Holdings plc (LSE: DDT), is a leading technology company that represents a new category of systems integrator providing network and multi-channel e-business solutions to global corporations.

Founded in 1983 as a specialist supplier of technology and services, Dimension Data`s strategy has evolved with the emergence of the intelligent network as the most important enabler in business today. Dimension Data`s global presence combined with its expertise and extensive skills base in network infrastructure and e-business solutions environments enables its customers to ascend into the global marketplace through 100% connectivity and integration.

Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Dimension Data is a member of the FTSE 100 index, employs over 12 000 people and operates in over 30 countries on six continents. Dimension Data has achieved a three-year compound annual growth rate in US dollars of 73% in revenue and 36% in basic earnings per share. For more information, please go to www.didata.com

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