Prepaid on fixed lines best way for students and parents -GT

Kpando (V/R), April 11, GNA- Ghana Telecom (GT) is promoting the use of its Easyfone product, a prepaid system on the company's fixed lines, to help students communicate with their parents from their schools with no direct cost.

All that the students' need was a pay phone, knowledge of the password that would allow access to the fixed lines of their parents or guardians and dial.

Mr Joseph Wireko, General Manager Marketing/ Communications and Fixed Lines Services said this on Wednesday at a forum in Kpando in the Volta Region.

He said it is hoped that the use of the Easyfone prepaid system by students would stop the clandestine use of mobile phones in schools. The forum was to address customers concerns and take suggestions from them to improve GT services in the area and Ghana in general. Mr Wireko said as part of the programme GT is in the process of providing all Senior Secondary Schools with pay phone booths; where students could contact their parents.

He said schools in areas where GT lines were yet to reach would be considered under the radio connections going on. Mr Wireko said the prepaid concept on fixed lines had come to solve the incessant problems the company had with its customers over bills, since subscribers under the system buy the units ahead of use. He said GT's strategy was market oriented and that all products it came out with reflected the needs of society.

Mr Emmanuel Dziko, General Manager Strategy and Business Development in his contribution described the fixed lines as systems of integrity and called on those who had abandoned their lines to go back for them as the system charged the lowest call tariffs in the country. He said GTs increasing product portfolio, including several value added services on its Onetouch Mobile network, was also offering five different internet connectivity opportunities to many Ghanaians.

Mr Dziko described land lines as "technically fixed but operationally mobile," as under the its prepaid Easyfone, one could call into his or her account anywhere in the country where there was a payphone booth or use phones of others with no cost the them. Mr Evans Amuzu, Volta Regional GT Manager asked customers owing the company to negotiate a payments pact with it to be considered for full or partial reconnection.

He said GT fixed lines and mobile networks were being extended to many parts of the region and that under utilized pay phone booths would be relocated. Complaints of customers expressed during the forum included inability to get access during times of free calls, frequent network breakdowns and non-functioning payphone booths.