By ’Mathabana Kotelo
MASERU — Telecommunications giant, Econet Telecom Lesotho, on Tuesday re-launched its fixed line business at the Econet Centre of Excellence in Thetsane.
Econet Telecom Lesotho chief executive, Nico Heyns, said the company had over the past few years concentrated on mobile services neglecting the fixed line businesses.
He said the re-launch is an attempt to revive the fixed line segment which is one of the four divisions of services offered by Econet Telecom Lesotho.
“The fixed line business has for long been neglected because of the mobile hype, we now want to awaken the sleeping giant that is fixed line.
“We want this product to be so good that it competes with other ETL products” he said.
Heyns said that service levels at ETL had improved significantly over time adding that the company is determined to transform the image of the fixed line.
“Service levels have taken a huge step upwards, we will bring the sexiness back into fixed line” he said.
In reviving fixed line, the company has invested in the use of fibre cables to replace copper cables which were prone to vandalism and theft which caused network disturbances.
“We have switched to using fibre instead of copper which gave rise to theft problems. Vandalism has since dropped significantly and we aim to keep it that way” he said.
Speaking at the same event, ETL general manager of the fixed line business, John Matlosa, said the re-launch of the fixed line and its separation from mobile business marked the beginning of a new frontier.
“This is a new beginning; fixed line has turned a new page,” he said.
“We are happy and confident that there is a strong demand for fixed lines and we are committed to fulfilling this need and wish to continue to offer telecommunication services of the highest standards,” Matlosa said.
He said their aim is to afford customers easier access to fixed telephone line at the cheapest tariff rates and best service levels.
ETL said it had assembled a newly trained team that includes sales and key account managers as well as technical support staff to deliver impeccable services to customers in business, government and the media.
The company also vowed to provide quick responses to fixed line faults and queries.
Matlosa said residential faults will be attended to within 72 hours while corporate and general business customers can expect a response within 24 hours or provision of alternative means of communication.
“We have a toll-free fault reporting line dedicated to fixed line customers to avoid customer care queues with mobile services customers.
“The call centre number 140 will be active from 8am to 5pm weekdays,” he said.
He added they had also set up a CEO hotline – 800220170 –to deal specifically with complaints on service delivery.
“It is our intention to have a vibrant presence within the market in Lesotho and to ensure that our customers enjoy competitive rates that transcend the norm in the industry.
“We hope that the initiative taken by Econet Telecom Lesotho will yield positive financial gains for our economy,” he said.
Econet Telecom Lesotho also announced that it will soon be launching EcoSure-mobile insurance and EcoTracking additions to its product innovation basket which already housed products like Eco-cash and Eco-solar.
The company said it will also in the near future embark on the commercialisation of the call centre business by hosting call centre services for some South African companies.
