Read this article on the web at: www.cellular-news.com/story/16423.php
MTN Uganda has unveiled a modified bicycle payphone concept, the publiCom Quad Bike. The publiCom Quad Bike is a payphone concept where a payphone is mounted on a four-wheel bicycle. MTN publiCom also has existing tricycle payphones operational in the Kampala area.
While addressing a press conference at MTN publiCom headquarters in Bukoto, the Chief Executive Officer, Francois du Plessis, explained that the publiCom Quad Bike is an example of convergence which is a vital ingredient of socioeconomic activities today. With the publiCom Quad Bike, the payphone attendants are able to move from one place to another, making telephony services even more accessible.
“People require communication that is accessible and this is achieved with the publiCom Quad Bike. The publiCom Quad Bike essentially brings communication to your doorstep, for no extra cost. This publiCom Quad Bike is mainly aimed at operating in the under served upcountry regions,” he explained.
The publiCom Quad Bike is a new innovation from MTN publiCom to complement the existing Payphone systems which continue to provide convenience, confidentiality and longer call duration per unit.
4 Comments
Janantha
Very interesting and a practical concept. Hope other countries which are in need easy communication access adopt this sort of a model. The only problem should be the cost factor. As the bikes may need fuel to run, per call charge will have an extra overhead added to it(Im only guessing this) .The ratio of GSM charges/resource charge should be a low one(a value less than 1 should be ideal) for greater utilization.
janantha
I made a minor error in the comment above..It should be resource charge/ GSM charge ratio. This should be lower.
Francois du Plessis
I would like to clarify that the quad bike concerned is not a motor bike but is in fact a pedal bike. Francois du Plessis, CEO, MTN publiCom, Uganda.
GSM payphone
GSM payphone, Dual SIM FCT, Automatic Mobile recharge System, MARS Recharge system.
#HomeBasedFlexiworkInCovid19 : Joint LIRNEasia, CPR and JustJobs Network panel at 2022 Internet Research Conference
Senior research managers Gayani Hurulle and Ayesha Zainudeen recently shared insights on the experience of women in India and Sri Lanka working remotely and flexibly during the pandemic at a jointly organised by LIRNEasia, the Centre for Policy Research (New Delhi) and the JustJobs Network at the 2022 Internet Research Conference (organised by the Centre for Internet and Society, CIS). LIRNEasia has been working with CPR and JJN over the last two and a half years on research on if and how digital platforms are empowering women with regards to work opportunities in India and Sri Lanka.
Cash transfers to the poor urgently needed; but who is poor in Sri Lanka?
The need for cash transfer to ease the inflationary burden faced by Sri Lankans has never been higher. While the monthly amounts paid by the Government are paltry, it will at least provide minor relief to those who need it the most.
LIRNEasia research on vaccine communications at 22nd ICA Conference
I recently participated in a panel discussion on “Health Communication: Risk & Strategies during COVID-19” at the International Communications Association (ICA) Conference (South Asia Regional Hub) on 29 May 2022. This session was also streamed at the main ICA Conference in Paris.
Links
User Login
Themes
Social
Twitter
Facebook
RSS Feed
Contact
15 1/2, Balcombe Place, Colombo 08
Sri Lanka
+94 (0)11 267 1160
+94 (0)11 267 5212
info [at] lirneasia [dot] net
Copyright © 2022 LIRNEasia
a regional ICT policy and regulation think tank active across the Asia Pacific