… Company to employ 200 more, further invest E200 million more in network infrastructure
… Reward Shareholders to validate share certificates from April
BY MBONGENI NDLELA
MBABANE– Talk of growth!
Eswatini Mobile today opened its doors to show the media all their milestones as they celebrate half a decade in Eswatini.
In a Media Business Presentation with Editors held today at Eswatini Mobile offices, the telephony company revealed all its data on financial Investments, network coverage, customer satisfaction, jobs created by the company, and innovations among other things.
As the mobile communication provider, Eswatini Mobile Chief Executive Officer Jeff Penberton revealed that the company has invested over E1 billion in the country.
Speaking during the business presentation, the CEO disclosed that the company invested 65 percent in establishing a brand new network infrastructure in Eswatini. He stated that about E350 million of the over E1 billion was used in setting up the company’s organizational infrastructure, as well as in paying for the daily operations of the company.
Network Coverage Expansion
Penberton stated that with the E650 million spent on networking infrastructure, the company managed to deploy 225 Base Stations.
“In the first quarter of 2023, we added 25 new 2G/3G/4G base stations to increase network capacity and network population coverage to 72 percent of the population”, said Penberton.
He disclosed that new service areas include rural areas like Mayaluka, Etjedze, Magubheleni, Ndlandlameni, Macamela, and as well as urban areas.
For future plans, the CEO disclosed that plans were underway to deploy 125 best Base Stations by the end of 2023.
“Between April and December 2023, we are investing an additional E200 Million to increase network capacity and deploy 125 new (2G/3G/4G) Base Stations,” he said.
Penberton stated that in total, the company will deploy 70 new Base Stations in rural areas, and the remaining 55 will be deployed in urban areas like UNESWA Kwaluseni campus, eZulwini, Sikhuphe, Marlkens Farms, and Simunye Village, among others.
“This E200 million Investment will bring the total number of Eswatini Mobile Base stations in the country to 350, and the network coverage to an overwhelming 90% of the country,” he said.
Customer Satisfaction
He continued: “We achieved 90% of our Financial Year 2023 targets”.
The CEO further disclosed that there are 400 000 active network customers, where 96 percent of them are on the pre-paid service, while 4 percent are on the post-paid service, normally called a “contract”.
Penberton also revealed that 125 000 of their customers are registered for e-mali, the mobile banking service offered by Eswatini Mobile.
He stated that their data services are in high demand in the country, pointing out that in February 2023 about 1 680 000 gigabytes of data was used by customers alone.
He said smartphone users on the network used about 2.8GB on average in February 2023, with Fixed Wireless customers using about 32GB on average in the same month.
“Our affordable voice and data plans have accelerated First World Communications and Living in Eswatini,” he said.
On another note, the CEO explained that they will continue innovating their services, as customers reap the rewards of these Innovations.
Giving an example, the CEO stated that since October 2022 when they launches the Home Phone Plus innovative product, 4 000 additional homes in the country got connected for voice and internet services.
He said the Home Phone Plus is an affordable home phone service that offers broadband internet services and voice calling minutes for just E195 per month on a 12-month contract.
Penberton stated that their customer satisfaction for February 2023 was at 69 percent – these were customers who said that they were “very satisfied with the products and services they receive from Eswatini Mobile”.
“We can do better”, he said.
Economic Impact
MBABANE– More jobs are coming at Eswatini Mobile.
Eswatini Mobile has announced that they will be employing 200 Emaswati in addition to the 615 people already employed by the company.
The job opportunities were revealed by Jeff Penberton, Eswatini Mobile CEO, during a breakfast meeting with Editors today.
The CEO stated that already 40 percent of their staff is directly employed, while 60 percent is working on contract. He said 99.9 percent of their workforce is Emaswati.
In addition to the positive economic impacts through employment, the CEO further revealed plans to validate and certify customers who were awarded company shares during the launch of Eswatini Mobile as part of their promotional campaign.
“From 00:00:00 on the 4th of April 2023, Swazi Mobile Trust Reward Shareholders will be able to validate and process their Reward Shares Certificates,” he said.
He said the validation will be done online at http://www.swazimobiletrust.co.sz.
“Once validation is successful, Reward Share Certificates will be issued immediately and be available for download. Reward Shareholders can keep their Share Certificates or offer their shares for sale through the Curator’s office,” he said.
The CEO stated that about 15 791 Reward Shareholders will benefit from Eswatini Mobile shares. In summary, he said as they approach the last three quarters of 2023, the company will expand its network faster, continue to improve its services and offers to customers, deliver on its promises to shareholders, and engage more with the press to keep Emaswati up to date on developments in the company.
