Telkom is helping telecommunication operators break the barriers of communication in remote areas by supporting USALs to provide communication services in the underserviced areas. To this end, Telkom partnered with B-Tel, a local operator in Welkom, to launch the Bua calling card.
Bua, meaning talk in Sesotho, will allow B-Tel customers to make local, national and international telephone calls from as little as R20.
Speaking at the launch this past Friday, John Joseph, Executive for Telkom Wholesale Services, said Telkom assisted B-Tel with the development of the calling card, which is similar to the Telkom World Call Card.
"This is all part of our commitment to create an enabling environment for the underserviced area licence (USAL) operators with the objective of contributing towards universal access to telecommunications," said Joseph.
Dominic Mokheti, CEO of B-Tel, applauded Telkom for its support in launching the card.
"The Bua card will help us expand our product offering to our customer base. Telkom has played a central role in the printing and developing of Bua prepaid calling cards," he said.
The Bua card will give people the freedom to communicate irrespective of their location, as long as they can access a fixed-line phone with a dialling tone.
B-Tel was licensed to provide telecommunications services to Lejweleputswa district, operating from Welkom.
Telkom will also manage the administration of the cards and B-Tel will market and sell the product to its customers.
The Bua card is available in R20, R50 and R100 denominations.
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