Mascom’s 17 years of business and compassion
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Mascom Chief Executive Officer, Jose Vieira Couceiro
Being one of the leading network operators and the first operator to set up shop in Botswana, Mascom will on the 17th of this month celebrate 17 years of operation in Botswana.
The company says it has over 1.7 million subscribers, and continues to be a market leader because of innovation and the ultimate aim is to bring new products and services to Botswana market.
For the past seventeen years, Mascom Wireless has played a leading role in the development of the mobile communications industry in Botswana. Over time, Mascom has established a comprehensive mobile telecommunications network with extensive coverage, high quality and a rich variety of innovative products and services.
Through the 17 years of existence Mascom has played a major role in developing the lives of Batswana. Among other things, the company established a friendship with Botswana sports. The company sponsored various sporting codes including football volleyball, horse racing, athletics, motorsport, and the recent Gaborone 2014 Africa Youth Games. Mascom also supports the arts, culture and music. This includes My Star, Thapong Artist of the Year, Mascom Live Sessions and the Maitisong President’s Concert.
In response to the compassionate cause initiated by President Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama to provide shelter to the needy, since 2010, Mascom has built 22 houses in Ramotlabaki, Molepolole and Gamodubu, Mogoditshane / Tsolamosese and Bobonong.
99% of their employees are Batswana and in partnership with the Botswana Government they have delivered the NTELETSA II Rural Telecommunications Project which included establishing an initial 41 Kitsong Centres after which they continued with this project and they now have 81 Mascom Kitsong Centers countrywide.
Officiating at the event, Mascom Chief Executive Officer, Jose Vieira Couceiro said Mascom is the only telecommunications provider in Botswana that is ISO Certified for Quality and Environment Standards. What this means is that, in delivering their products and services they adhere to strict national and international quality and environmental standards.
He also said that the 200 million pula worth of facility being the The Mascom Innovation Centre in Phakalane is amongst Africa’s best. The Building received The Best Builder Award in Botswana by PPC Cement Annual awards. It was awarded the Highly Commended prize For Best Projects 2011 in Africa, by Construction News Magazine.
Mascom Chief Marketing Officer Dzene Makwhade-Seboni said they have maintained a tradition of excellence, marked by numerous milestones in the history of telecommunications in Botswana. She said the event marks yet another milestone with their update on developments relating to Mascom’s intentions for the next generation of mobile broadband technology, 4G/LTE.
To date, Mascom’s 3G mobile Broadband services cover 70% of the population of Botswana. Having successfully trialled 4G/LTE they are now taking the next logical step. “Our evolution is a testament to our commitment to provide world Class mobile broadband services” she said.
During the night attendees experienced the LTE 4G which will be launched very soon. Mascom was the first operator to pilot 4G LTE in 2012. This new technology will allow data speeds of about 100 Megabits per second. The 4G LTE doubles the existing capacity and reduces less latency (e.g. time a request takes to return to sender).
It brings new more advanced devices, new interfaces, peer to peer applications and new IP based services (e.g. online TV streaming, Cloud Computing synchronization, full data voice and video convergence, IP TV, standards).
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Malawi appeals for help over Cyclone Freddy at PAP
As of yesterday evening, the death toll from the Cyclone in Malawi had risen from the initially reported 190 to 225 in a short period of time, over 20 000 people have been displaced, and the worst of fears are yet to come as the fatalities continue to mount. This was reported by a Malawi Member of Parliament attending the Pan African Parliament session in Midrand, South Africa, Hon Steven Mikiya.
Mikiya was giving a statement on behalf of Malawi as the ongoing Pan African Parliament in South Africa.
Mikiya said the Cyclone has wreaked the most havoc in our country’s Southern Region. “The Southern Region, has been hardest hit with widespread heavy rains and strong winds. This caused a rapid rise in water levels and subsequent flooding. Meanwhile, power supply has been disrupted, roads blocked off and rendered impassable and mudslides have also been widely reported,” he said.
He made a special appeal to the PAP: “Where I come from, there is a parable which I would like to share with you which says, “mzako weniweni umamudziwa panthawi ya mavuto.” Simply put, a friend in need is a friend indeed or put loosely, a person who helps at a difficult time is a friend you can rely on.”
Mikiya continued: “Yes! Misfortune has knocked on our door and left in its wake a trail of death and destruction that may take years to fully recover from. However, amidst these difficulties, I have every reason to believe that sometimes when you are in a dark place and think you have been buried, you have actually been planted. My belief, Mr. President, arises out of my faith in this gathering and out of the conviction that it is not coincidental that Cyclone Freddy hit Malawi and Mozambique while the delegations of both countries are here.”
According to Mikiya, the level of destruction, the loss of life, property and the decimation of the entire fabric of established communities has been unprecedented. He noted that all this, is coming at a time when Malawi was starting to show signs of recovery from the deadly COVID-19 pandemic that also came hard on the heels of Cyclone Ana and Cyclone Gombe that left a similar trail of devastation and destruction in Malawi and neighbouring countries.
As of Sunday, this week, from the 12th of March, Malawi and Mozambique have been facing the devastating effects of Cyclone Freddy that made a landfall over Mozambique on Saturday the 11th and reached Malawi by Sunday the 12th of March.
The Malawi legislator said he has absolute faith in the Pan African Parliament, which he described as “a league of nations brought together by a shared ancestry, history, identity as well as our beloved continent which we inhabit”.
Meanwhile, Malawi President, Lazarus Chakwera, has declared a State of Disaster in the affected areas effectively appealing for local and international support for the affected families.
Mikiya appealed to the Pan African Parliament drawing “positive” inspiration from Europe which rallied around Turkey after the destructive earthquakes to bring the much-needed relief and humanitarian aid to the people of Turkey.
He said Africa should demonstrate to the world that the African Union and its Organs are not mere talk shows, but effective institutions which stand up when it matters most.
“Alone, it may take us a lifetime to fully recover, but together, in the Pan-Africanist spirit of Ubuntu, our lives and livelihoods will return to a semblance of normality in record time. This is the time to live by our operative mantra, “One Africa, One Voice.” Mikiya concluded.