 Return to LNP
|
|
Celltel`s focus on providing islandwide coverage ? CEO
Sunday, 31 July 2005 - 4:58 AM SL Time
|
|
|
`We do not aspire to dislodge the market leader in the mobile phone industry. We had are content with being the number two and achieving satisfactory growth in our customer have as well as continually improving our network coverage,` said CEO of Celltel, Demindra Ratnayake.
He was addressing a media briefing on connection with the launch of the `Per Second Package` at the Colombo Hilton last week.
He said that Celltel is the pioneer mobile phone provider in Sri Lanka. `We many obstacles to overcome as pioneers to pave the way for others. At the time we commenced operation in Sri Lanka, digital technology was not available and we had no choice, but to invest in the then available analog technology.`
`Those who came in after Celltel had the advantage of investing into digital technology with added advantages. Celltel could not move out of analog immebably as it had to have a return on its initial investment. This took a few years and had to be done while ensuring an attractive rate of return to its shareholders, Ratnayake explained.
`This transition was successfully carried out and Celltel is often to offer new innovative features, ahead of the market leader. Since Sri Lanka is a growing market and would be so far around five years or more, the players in the industry can grow simultaneously, without having to capture the market share of others, he noted.
Celltel is growing both in coverage and client base at present while its shareholders are receiving attractive returns on their investment. When the market gets saturated, the company will shift its strategy to suit new marble conditions, Ratnayake added.
The new system of billing is based on the actual usage time and is focused on the prepaid platform. Until in the past, when calls were charged at Rs. 11 per minute (during peak time), the PSP system would allow customers to make outgoing calls during peak time at Rs. 5 for 20 seconds, Rs. 2.50 for 70 seconds or Rs. 7.50 for a 30 second call, he elaborated.
According to information available, the greater number of mobile phone calls usedly last between 10 seconds and 20 seconds. This would provide a large savings for the majority of Celltel customers.
Customers who are at present on the standard system could shift to the new PSP system by dialling a short code. The first option of changing to the PSP will be free of charge, while subsequent change overs will be charged at Rs. 50 each.
Celltel also recently introduced IDD calls at local rates for 13 selected countries. The PSP system is also valid for the IDD at local rate package, Ratnayake said.
`Celltel is focused on providing its customers an islandwide coverage and increasing its customer base. The gaps in its network, two years, ago, no longer exists,` he said.
|
|
|
|
