MTN, one of Africa`s leading telecommunication companies, has again chosen Protek, the global provider for business and operational support systems, to supply a fully convergent Customer Care and Billing (CCB) system to support its growing GSM subscriber base.
MTN Cameroon was granted a licence in 1999 to operate as the second network operator in Cameroon and in the same year acquired Camtel, making it the largest GSM mobile operator in the country with over 165 000 active customers. In order to meet increased demand in the industry, replace the existing billing system and introduce new services, MTN turned to Protek to provide a new CCB solution.
MTN installed Protek`s CCB technology in both Cameroon and Uganda, citing the technology`s extensive functionality and flexibility as key differentiators.
MTN`s decision to invest into Protek`s solution was also driven by Protek`s technology roadmap that ensured that all MTN`s future requirements would be supported. Upon migration to the next release of Protek`s Customer Care and Billing early next year, MTN will be able to integrate with Ericsson`s PPL IN platform to manage a convergent prepaid and post-paid subscriber base.
Integrating the pre- and post-paid subscriber base will allow MTN Cameroon to provide a flexible service offering to both types of subscribers. MTN will be able to access valuable customer information across their entire market, enabling it to launch new products and services for all types of customers.
Protek`s Customer Care and Billing`s N-tiered client hierarchy will allow MTN Cameroon to flexibly configure its business model, and provide customers with a single combined monthly bill for multiple services. For major accounts, invoices and statements will be provided at multiple levels in the client hierachy.
Protek`s Customer Care and Billing solution combines both a dual language interface capability, together with the option of multi-lingual invoicing. Over 80% of installations are operating a multi-lingual capacity. Protek also operates three other installations in West Africa with a French-English interface capability.
A further important factor in Protek`s appointment was speed of implementation, which enabled MTN to reap the benefits of the new system at the earliest opportunity, getting services out ahead of the competition. Protek met this need by installing a best practice working solution in less than 60 days with a defined upgrade path for the roll-out of additional services going forward.
Commenting on the announcement, Dirk Smet, CEO of MTN Cameroon, said: "Protek has not only provided us with a best practice solution, with built-in flexibility to meet both our short- and long-term needs, but implemented it in a very short space of time, affording us significant market advantage.
"We are delighted to work with MTN to serve their sites in Cameroon and Uganda. Rapid implementation is critical for success in today`s market. That is why we combine best-of-breed functionality with real flexibility in order to help our customers make market gains," said Geoff Butcher, CEO, Protek.
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MTN Cameroon has a nationwide network with a capacity up to 600 000 subscribers. MTN Cameroon has in excess of 165 000 active subscribers growing monthly at an average rate of 15 000 per month. MTN Cameroon`s primary focus is to offer quality services to its customers through world-class customer services backed by a quality network and quality peripheral technology solutions.
Protek
Protek develops, markets and supports software solutions for next generation convergent communication providers and large enterprises, ensuring a predictable and rapid return on investment.
Protek`s business and operational support systems enable communication providers and large enterprises to improve business efficiency with increased revenue from new services and reduced costs through automation. Protek`s software solutions can be easily configured to integrate business processes, allowing real-time end-to-end management of customers, applications, services and networks in a robust and secure environment.
Protek`s broad range of functionality in Service Provisioning, Customer Care & Billing, Mediation, Network Management and Network Security provides both customers and end-users with the benefits of a faster time to market, reduced business risk, improved customer service, scalability and ease of implementation.
More than 100 communications providers and large enterprises, in over 35 countries, utilise Protek to improve their competitiveness and profitability. Protek`s customers include MTN, Swisscom, VIAG EuroPlattform, Telenor, ntl, Western Wireless International and BUPA. Protek`s partners include Cap Gemini, Nortel, Siemens, Dimension Data, Ascom, Plexus Teledata and Connexn.
Protek employs 600 people globally, with headquarters in the UK and offices in Europe, the US, Central America, SA, South Asia, the Middle East and the CIS.
For more information, please visit our Web site at www.protek.com or e-mail info@protek.com.
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