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Interview Summary: Airtel Ghana
Airtel Ghana
Business SectorIndustry: Telecom
Location of OperationsProduction: Accra Date of Interview:
May 21, 2015 Location of Interview:
Accra Company FocusProduct:
Airtel is one of the world’s top 5 mobile communications companies.
Airtel Ghana is part of Bharti Airtel Limited Airtel which is an Indian multinational telecommunication Services Company headquartered in New Delhi,
India. Airtel operates in 20 countries across South Asia, Africa, and the Channel Islands.
Airtel provides GSM, 3G and 4G LTE mobile services, fixed line broadband and voice services depending upon the country of operation.
Airtel is the largest cellular service provider in India, with 192.22 million subscribers as of August 2013.
Airtel is the largest mobile operator in South Asia and the fourth largest in the world by subscriber base.
Airtel Ghana aims to connect communities across Africa by providing affordable, relevant and innovative mobile solutions to all.
The Business Focus of Airtel Ghana covers the following six 6 areas: Products services for all 3 screens Phone, TV, Computer
Network expansion and IT transformation to create improved customer satisfaction
as well as economies of scale Leading industry innovation for the benefit of customers
Delightful locally relevant brand experiences Nurturing the talent of best in class leaders at all levels
Building strong partnerships for generating superior value for its customers and
stakeholders In Ghana, the company provides voice and text services including voice SMS,
Company assets:
Recognition, geographical spread, liquidity, expertise and agricultural focus.
Previouscurrent engagement with USAID if any:
None known.
Drawbacks mini-due diligence: The Bank prefers to lend to individual members of well-structured and
effectively managed groups with membership of no more than 20 per group. Each member of the group and the group itself must open and operate accounts with the bank. The bank will hold the group members jointly
liable for full repayment of all loans granted to individual group members.
Point of Contact:
Diana Bokrom Relationship Manager
M: +233 268 586518
E: dborkromagricbank.com Website:
www.agricbank.com
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voicemail, video calls, dial-in broadcast service one-to-many and services such as SMSText, Bulk SMS, Messages, SMS Infotainment, Web 2 SMS, mobile money,
internet services, mobile data, special promotions including SMS bundles, Toll free services for businesses with feedback capabilities and fixed lines.
Airtel Ghana has partnership with Thuraya in Dubai in development of all their
mobile apps.
Business Interests:
Airtel Ghana is interested in advancing their mobile money flagship Airtel Money. Airtel Ghana is also very interested in increasing their subscriber base through
quality, reliable and efficient service.
Airtel also wants to build their own system that can serve as voice prompt known as Robucall for customers who can’t read and write. The facility is projected to be
ready by September, 2015
Airtel Ghana is interested in expanding its platform and customer base for closed user-group solutions, feedback services using toll free lines, m-commerce through its
Airtel Money service and mobile data services.
Business Challenges:
Difficulty in deploying GPS coordinates when the company wants to implement projects that will require use of GPS.
Deploying existing 2G and 3G services for effective coverage on all areas of the sea likely to be covered by the project to facilitate dissemination of video, photos and
other mobile data may be a big challenge. Unreliable power supply to the mast making the company to invest more in
generators. Battery theft at cell sites which disrupts the functioning of the generators that power
the mast. Lack of commitment from members of communities for whom services are being
rendered making them to have confrontation with staff of the company when equipment including base stations and masts are being installed on their lands.
Exchange rate volatility Ghana Cedi and foreign currencies especially the US
dollars which affects the company’s working capital and cash flow.
Persistence of Simbox fraud despite efforts by authorities to stop this practice
affecting revenue inflows
Rising fuel prices and declining margins at current telecom prices constitute serious
challenges
CSR if any:
Investment in educational facilities by providing infrastructures.
Provision of water facilities such as boreholes for deprived communities. Support of selected projects through offering prices at below commercial rates
AlliancePartnership Potential highmediumlow: High
Program Areas Project Overlap:
Can provide bulk SMS and mobile data services to fisher folks, fishing communities
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and fish trade associations but the target groups should be able to read, make toll free calls, send simple messages and receive messagescalls using mobile phones.
Company assets:
Understanding of the telecom sector and expertise. Existence of base stations and other relevant telephony equipment in the focus areas
in Central and Western Regions of Ghana.
Previouscurrent engagement with USAID if any: None known
Drawbacks mini-due diligence:
The company does not have the needed infrastructure powerful enough to provide strong signals to carry out its services beyond 3km radius over the sea from existing
base stations. Also, there will be more resources to be committed in setting up a system that can
aid in reporting IUU.
Point of Contact:
Richard Adiase Head of Sales and Operations
T: +233 307 000000 M: +233 266 000282
E: Richard.adiasegh.airtel.com Website:
