GT/Easyfone maxi users must charge requisite rates for satellite calls

Operators of Ghana Telecom's (GT) GT/Easyfone Maxi product have been cautioned to safeguard their businesses by charging the requisite rates for satellite calls (INMARSAT) from their customers or risked jeopardizing their businesses.

Satellite calls, which are described as super international calls attracted 90,000 cedis per minute, according to GT billing system, but operators ignorantly charge between 6,000 and 7,500 cedis, as normal rates calls to destinations like the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

Mr John Amankwa, GT Commercial Manager in-charge of GT/Easyfone Maxi, who disclosed these at the launch of the its new product at Hohoe on Tuesday said the Inmarsat calls, which are more expensive, are ocean-based and originated from the Atlantic with access codes 0088213, 0087139, 0087130, 008711 etc, which should attract the appropriate rates.

He said applicants of the new GT/Easyfone and Maxi Pre-paid Telephony would soon be supplied with mini billboards to enable them display their daily rates, as was the case of forex bureaux, targeted at bringing telephony to the doorsteps of its customers.

Mr Amankwa said Hohoe would soon experience GT's broadband free subscription and free installation for cyber caf=E9 operators with branded co-operation between its business partners, as some of its new product for its clientele.

He said the five per cent incentive for exhausting the 600,000 cedis scratch card would soon attract a 10 per cent increase, when it was spent within seven days and urged operators to take advantage. Mr Joseph Wireko, General Manager, Marketing and Communications of GT said the launch of the new product was in response to customer complaints regarding it products and services, as well as expectations of GT in chartering the way in delivering quality, reliable and innovative telecommunication services in the country.

He said the innovation and novelty of the new product includes no bills, controls consumption, convenient, secured and with automatic international direct dialling (IDD) facilities, which is ideal for communication and business centre operators.

Mr Wireko said GT has installed the Advance Intelligence Network (AIN) system, which is a dedicated switch responsible for monitoring and controlling pre-paid facilities on its network. Mr Seth Seglah, Hohoe Area Manager of GT said the stiff competition among telecommunication players had necessitated the introduction of innovation into the industry to expand, satisfy their cherished clients and maximize profits.