MTN Business Kenya has introduced an Internet Protocol (IP) private automatic exchange (PABX), a software telephone exchange service, to offer lower international business calling rates in the region.
The service allows business to make calls over an Internet service.
Speaking during the launch, MTN Business Kenya Managing Director Tom Omariba said that with the introduction of the service, customers can make international calls for as low as two US cents per minute, giving it a competitive edge in the market.
“We believe telephony should go on the Internet for businesses because there is more you can do with it,” said Omariba.
“What we have given is competitive and because we are giving value for money that is missing in this market.”
MTN’s launch of the IP PBX is possible in Kenya due to the unified licensing communication regime that allows the provision of multiple services under a single licence.
Omariba said being a hosted service, the service would enable businesses to significantly reduce on their capital expenditure and network costs, ultimately increasing access to converged applications.
“Convergence brings data and voice IP and GSM together and is driven by increasingly mobile employees, the trend for staff to be always available and work pressures that demands instant answers,” Omariba said.
With this new service MTN Business Kenya, will be able to compete with other corporate companies including Access Kenya, Kenya Data Networks and Telkom Kenya that control the majority of the fixed line market.
South African based MTN bought a 60% stake in UUNET Kenya, a corporate Internet service provider in 2008 and rebranded it to MTN Business Kenya in October 2010.
Brian Adero
