Tmcel Reports Service Outages in Maputo Due to Vandalism; Financial Improvements Noted
Tmcel, a Mozambican mobile operator, reported service outages in Maputo due to vandalism of equipment. The company improved its financial situation in 2023, reducing losses and expanding its customer base while undergoing modernization efforts to enhance service delivery. The government is supporting Tmcel with a Revitalization Plan to improve performance.
Mozambican mobile network operator Tmcel has reported outages affecting customers in Maputo due to the vandalism of essential equipment. The destruction of cabinets located on sidewalks has led to disruptions in voice and data services across key areas, including downtown Maputo and neighborhoods such as Matola and Alto-Maé. Tmcel is making efforts to restore service as quickly as possible, emphasizing the importance of community vigilance to prevent such incidents.
In 2023, Tmcel managed to significantly reduce its financial losses, reporting a negative net result of 2,130 million meticais (approximately 30.5 million euros). This represents a substantial improvement from the previous year’s losses of nearly 4,333 million meticais (62.1 million euros). The operator ended the year with 1,842,679 active mobile customers and a small number on the fixed network.
Tmcel is 92% state-owned, and the government intervened in March 2023 to enhance the company’s performance by implementing a Revitalization Plan. By the end of 2023, Tmcel faced negative equity exceeding 10,122 million meticais (145 million euros) due to historical financial challenges, resulting in liabilities that surpass its total assets.
Established in December 2018 through the merger of Telecomunicações de Moçambique and Moçambique Celular, Tmcel aimed to form a competitive market entity. Initially employing 2,054 people, the workforce decreased to 1,370 by the end of 2023.
In terms of infrastructure development, Tmcel is undergoing a modernization and expansion initiative that began in January 2022. By the end of 2023, Tmcel had modernized or activated 966 transmission antennas out of a target of 1,077. This expansion has notably increased broadband coverage significantly, enhancing its operational capacity from 10 to 400 gigabits per second.
In conclusion, Tmcel continues to face challenges due to vandalism affecting its service delivery in Maputo. However, the operator has made notable strides in reducing financial losses and improving infrastructure through modernization efforts. With an ongoing revitalization plan backed by the government, Tmcel aims to stabilize and enhance its operations, thereby serving its customer base more effectively in the future.
Original Source: clubofmozambique.com
