Service Disruptions at Tmcel Due to Vandalism in Maputo

Tmcel experienced service disruptions in Maputo due to vandalism affecting its equipment, leaving many customers without connectivity. The company is taking measures to restore services and enhance community vigilance against such incidents. Financially, Tmcel has reduced its losses significantly and is implementing a revitalization plan to improve performance and service offerings.

Mozambican mobile network operator Tmcel reported significant service disruptions in Maputo due to vandalism affecting its equipment. The company stated that customers in several areas, including downtown Maputo, Matola, Polana, Alto-Maé, and Malhangalene, are currently without voice and data services due to the destruction of infrastructure.

In a public statement, Tmcel addressed these incidents, noting that vandalism of equipment cabinets located on sidewalks has seriously impacted service provision. The operator emphasized its commitment to restoring services promptly, stating, “Every effort is being made to normalize the situation as soon as possible.”

Tmcel has taken proactive measures to raise awareness within communities and enhance collaboration with local authorities to deter future vandalism. The operator encourages citizens to remain vigilant and protect telecommunications infrastructure.

Financially, Tmcel has improved its performance, reporting a reduction in losses from nearly 4.3 billion meticais (62.1 million euros) in 2022 to 2.13 billion meticais (30.5 million euros) in 2023. As of the end of its financial year, Tmcel had 1.84 million active mobile customers and over 27 thousand fixed-line users.

The state, being the majority shareholder, intervened in Tmcel’s operations in March 2023 to enhance its performance, proposing a Revitalization Plan that received approval two months later. Despite these efforts, Tmcel reported a negative equity situation exceeding 10 billion meticais (145 million euros) as of December 31, 2023.

Established in December 2018 through the merger of Telecomunicações de Moçambique (TDM) and Moçambique Celular (Mcel), Tmcel aimed to create a strong and competitive entity. The company’s workforce has decreased from 2,054 employees at inception to 1,370 by the end of 2023.

Furthermore, as part of its network modernization initiative, Tmcel activated or modernized a total of 966 transmission sites as of the end of 2023. This effort follows a decade of inactivity in terms of investment in infrastructure, significantly expanding broadband coverage and enhancing overall service quality for its users.

In summary, Tmcel faces challenges due to vandalism affecting its operations in Maputo, leading to service disruptions for many customers. Despite these setbacks, the operator has reported an improvement in financial performance and is actively working to prevent future incidents of vandalism. With ongoing modernization efforts and a renewed focus on community awareness, Tmcel aims to enhance service delivery and stabilize its operations in the telecommunications sector of Mozambique.

Original Source: clubofmozambique.com