Ahmed Al Marar Chairman of HITS Telecom Uganda

Empowering Uganda is the goal of new telecom
With access to the best network, best value for money, innovative services & widespread distribution

The first venture of its kind in Africa for majority shareholder, International Investment House (IIH), HITS Telecom Uganda (HTU) is one of the new telecoms to appear on the scene in the changing and dynamic landscape that is Uganda’s telecom sector this year. A Middle Eastern leader in emerging market investment, Abu-Dhabi-based IIH has a long track record of successful development projects in emerging countries in the energy, transport, oil and real estate sectors. Excited at the prospects for growth in the Ugandan telecom sector and encouraged by the country’s liberal and business-friendly investor policies, IIH, and its chairman Ahmed Al Marar, are looking forward to its latest venture, convinced that the Ugandan market is ready for the first class service HTU will provide.

“Customers of HTU will be assured of having access to the best network, best value for money, innovative services, and widespread distribution channel, all backed by world-class customer service,” says Mr Marar.

An important priority for HTU is the provision of coverage in Uganda’s semi-rural and rural areas. In particular, HTU intends to provide network coverage in areas that have so far been overlooked by other service providers in the country. This is in line with a fundamental cornerstone of the company’s philosophy – that each and every Ugandan has the right to affordable, high quality telecommunication access. HTU plans to form solid partnerships with both local and international partners in order to fulfil this vision, such as the partnership agreement HTU signed this year with Alcatel-Lucent to build its state-of-the-art turnkey GSM 900/1800 network in Uganda. The next generation network, which includes high speed data services GPRS/EDGE, WIMAX broadband, international gateway, mobile virtual network and data transmission services, is testament to the company’s commitment to the country. HTU will also be working with other global leading suppliers such as Cisco and Oracle for the deployment of the latest IP call centre and ERP system.

HTU is also committed to building strong CSR partnerships in Uganda aimed at improving the quality of life for all Ugandans. HTU hopes to empower Ugandans through providing them with the tools they need to become economically self-sufficient. The focus will be on business development and empowerment through a micro-financing initiative.

‘The resulting competition will benefit consumers through better service, lower prices and greater innovation’

Another step towards this is the role that HTU will play as an employer in the country. HTU has already filled all of its top management positions with qualified and talented local professionals, all self-driven, motivated and high performing individuals who will enjoy the challenging business environment that the telecoms sector represents, and who will benefit from the opportunities for professional growth that a career with HTU can provide. HITS Telecom prides itself on being an equal opportunity employer, and diversity, high levels of personal integrity and multiculturalism are trademarks of its employees.

Mr Marar says that the opening up of the Ugandan telecoms sector over the past year can only serve to benefit consumers in the country, who will enjoy the lower tariffs that increased competition will bring. “Existing subscribers in Uganda represent only 12.7 per cent of the potential market,” he comments, adding that this leaves more than enough room for the country’s current five telecom companies to expand exponentially. “The resulting competition will benefit consumers through better service, lower prices and greater innovation. HITS Telecom believes in fair competition, and we know that only by being a cut above can we make our mark and stand out from the other players.”

Hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting has been a great privilege for Uganda as well as a good opportunity for Ugandan companies, says the chairman, adding that they will benefit from the extra business the conference will generate. “All this will ultimately benefit the Ugandan people and the local economy through increased demand for goods and services. This is in addition to the phenomenal publicity the country will receive as an attractive investment destination long after the conference,” he concludes. “HTU is extremely happy that the government of Uganda has liberalised the telecoms sector and we have confidence that this will change the development of the economic landscape of the country. We at HTU firmly believe that there is soon to be a telecoms revolution in Uganda.”