Ugandan telcos outsource network management

Orange Uganda and Warid Telecom have outsourced management of their network infrastructure and assets to UK-based Eaton Towers, in a bid to cut operational costs, The Independent reports.

Orange signed a 15-year partnership with Eaton, which it says will exploit the coverage provided by the company's tower portfolio. It also includes outsourcing of the maintenance and operation of sites to cut capital expenditure.

Warid entered into a definitive agreement with Eaton Towers for sale and management of up to 394 towers assets and other passive network infrastructure, and expects to close the sale in the first half of this year.

Alan Harper, Eaton Towers' CE, says he's excited to work with the Ugandan telecoms operators, New Vision states.

Harper says: “Eaton Towers' expertise in tower management and commitment to top-quality service will allow Ugandan operators to focus on providing innovative mobile services and expanding their subscriber base.

“At the same time, our ownership and management of the telecoms network infrastructure will ensure that the local networks will continually be enhanced and expanded, while maintaining low operating costs for the mobile operators.”

Warid Telecom awarded Spanco BPO the contract to run its call centre operations as it prepares for growth in the coming years, All Africa says.

Currently, Warid runs an 80-seat call centre, but Spanco says it will increase the number of seats in the first year to 150. It will then increase the seats to 500 in the next financial year.