Smartcom, a specialised cellular service provider, has reinforced its commitment to SA's agricultural community by including the sector as a specific area in the company's vision and strategy going forward.
At the Agri Congress in October 2002, Nick Zografos, Smartcom's chief executive officer, announced to attending delegates and Japie Grobler, President of Agri SA, that "at Smartcom, we understand the community's need for Internet connectivity, information such as up-to-date commodity prices, security enhancements and cellular airtime cost containment. With this in mind, we have outlined a number of objectives, which will address these requirements.
"In short, the objectives, which we set out, include:
To be the preferred cellular service supplier within the agricultural sector.
To offer a cost-effective solution for cellular communication to each member of the farming community including input suppliers.
To introduce or facilitate various security solutions using the Vodacom network.
To create a closer relationship between the farming community and Vodacom, SA's largest cellular network.
To contribute financially to Agri SA and the Agri Securitas Trust Fund.
"Our commitment to support Agri SA and the Agri Securitas Trust Fund, which has been centred on the Mphumalanga, Gauteng and North West Province regions, has resulted in cost benefits of between 10% and 30% on customers' monthly cellular bills. Furthermore, we are very proud of the funds that we have been able to raise for the agricultural community which, to date, has exceeded R250 000," concludes Zografos.
With a sound understanding of the community's communications needs, Smartcom has provided connections to a large number of farmers in various regions. These connections, which include the provision of value-added services, which facilitate cost containment, security and reliable communication, are set to increase substantially with Smartcom's dedicated focus on the agricultural sector.
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As a preferred cellular service provider to Vodacom, Smartcom has established itself as a niche player in the South African telecommunications industry by targeting high-end individual and business cellular users that require cost effective and specialised solutions to meet their specific communication needs. Based in Johannesburg, Smartcom seeks to identify and provide effective services and products in an effort to continuously provide superior and personalised levels of service to its diverse customer base.
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