MTN Denies Rivalry With Terracom

Posted 27 May 2006 @ 08:49 pm EET     Print     Reprint     E-Mail     Comments

Kigali (IBTimes.com) - The Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN) Rwanda has refuted allegations that its subscribers cannot call Terracom due to the rivalry between the two mobile telephone service providers in the country.

According to MTN Marketing Manager Albert Kinuma (pictured), Terracom Communications has to be cleared by the Rwanda Regulatory and Utilities Agency (RURA) if its clients are to receive calls from MTN subscribers.

"MTN would be earning more revenue, so it would be meaningless for MTN to deny its clients rights to call subscribers of Terracom; some paperwork between Terracom and RURA has to first be done," Kinuma said.

He also stressed that Terracom's range of mobile numbers (05a-oe) is not on the MTN network."There is need to seek permission first from RURA, otherwise we don't have any bad feelings for TERRACOM as some people claim," he added.

But in what seems to be a battle of 'brotherly wits' the Terracom Global Marketing Manager Victor Kinuma, (a brother to Albert) said it's not up to their company to facilitate MTN subscribers to call Terracom clients.

He was, however, quick to add that negotiations between all the concerned parties are underway to resolve the matter. Terracom launched its mobile services on May 24, bringing to an end MTN's nine-year monopoly.