Despite what insiders are calling renewed tension within Neotel's management team, SA's second fixed-line operator has more than doubled its consumer base this financial year, reaching 100 000 customers.
The operator, which has a capacity for a million users in sight, says it is poised to double its consumer growth over the next year. Chief sales and marketing officer Noel Studti says the company has been heavily focused on its consumer business. “Neotel takes its commitment to the consumer market extremely seriously. We have been listening to what our customers and the market have been telling us, and have been working hard on our consumer business to enhance the customer's service experience.”
Neotel currently covers 2.5 million households with its instant voice and data home bundle offerings. The company says it plans to launch new products in the coming months, and increase its reach by adding new channel partners to sell Neotel products and services through various retail networks.
Neotel says it will continue to pursue strong sales and market share growth by offering competitive call rates. “At present, Neotel offers an average of 25%-30% savings on call rates to consumers and small businesses, and has responded to every announced reduction in the interconnect rates by ICASA since 2010.”
Internal upheaval
ITWeb reported last week on the exit of two Neotel management members, Nadia Bulbulia, Neotel's recently-appointed corporate communications and brand GM; and Thursten James, executive head of the operator's consumer business unit.
While Neotel confirmed the resignations, the company brushed off allegations of tension at its management level, saying these were merely a product of normal employee movements.
Sources within and close to the company, however, beg to differ. Many say the atmosphere is reminiscent of that experienced last year during Neotel's realignment process, which saw then CEO and MD Ajay Pandey, as well as his right-hand man, Mukul Sharma, return to India.
Share
