Tmcel, the Mozambican mobile operator, has suspended services in Maputo due to vandalism affecting critical equipment. The company is working to restore services, emphasizing community vigilance and cooperation with authorities. In terms of finances, Tmcel reported reduced losses and initiatives for network modernization, improving broadband capacity and infrastructure.
Mozambican mobile network operator Tmcel has reported significant service disruptions in Maputo due to vandalism to essential equipment. Customers across areas such as downtown Maputo, Matola, Polana, Alto-Maé, and Malhangalene currently lack both voice and data services. The state-owned company stated that the vandalism mainly affected sidewalk cabinets containing critical support infrastructure for the network.
In response, Tmcel is taking immediate steps to restore services, emphasizing the importance of security and community awareness. They highlighted ongoing initiatives aimed at increasing vigilance among citizens to prevent such incidents that disrupt services. Furthermore, Tmcel aims to enhance collaboration with local authorities for better surveillance.
Tmcel has recently made strides in financial performance, reducing losses significantly in 2023. The operator reported a net loss of 2,130 million meticais ($30.5 million) for the fiscal year, down from nearly 4,333 million meticais ($62.1 million) in 2022. Active subscribers rose to 1,842,679 on the mobile network.
The Government, as the majority shareholder, intervened in March 2023 with a Revitalization Plan to improve Tmcel’s performance. By the end of 2023, Tmcel faced negative equity of over 10,122 million meticais ($145 million) due to accumulated losses exceeding liabilities. Tmcel was formed in December 2018 from the merger of Telecomunicações de Moçambique (TDM) and Moçambique Celular (Mcel) and retains an 8% stake held by former employees.
The company’s workforce has decreased from 2,054 employees at its inception to 1,370 by the close of 2023. The ongoing network modernization project initiated in January 2022 has seen Tmcel modernize 966 transmission antennas, with plans for 1,077 in total. The modernization aims to significantly expand broadband capacity and network coverage. Tmcel has expanded its broadband coverage from 10 to 400 gigabits per second (Gbps) and global coverage of 4.5G in the mobile network following nearly a decade without investments in infrastructure.
In summary, Tmcel’s service disruptions due to vandalism highlight ongoing security challenges while the company continues to work towards improving its financial health and expanding network capabilities. Recent initiatives focus on community awareness and partnerships with local authorities to prevent future incidents. The operator’s financial recovery and modernization efforts underscore its commitment to enhancing service delivery for customers while addressing infrastructure vulnerabilities.
Original Source: clubofmozambique.com
