Ringing in the changes in commuter transport

MTN and the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), in a joint initiative, will be providing South Africa's taxis with pay phones. The pioneering initiative - 'MTN Ring'uvaya' - which literally translated means "phone while you travel", will ultimately provide South Africa's taxi community with easy access to cellular communication whilst on the move.

Taxi payphones will be rolled-out across South Africa, initially targeting Kwazulu-Natal. President of SANTACO, Tom Muofhe says, "We are very excited about our partnership with MTN, and the service we are offering South Africa's commuters. We are committed to transforming the lives of South Africa's taxi drivers, owners and commuters and will not let these important stakeholders down."

MTN Ring'uvaya works as follows; a taxi pay phone is installed into a taxi. MTN has developed a package for taxi owners, providing each taxi with a SIM card, loaded with airtime. With this SIM card, taxi pay phones will come with a control unit, two handsets, an antenna and cables and adaptors. Calls will be charged at 50 cents per unit.

Once the taxi owner or driver has the product installed, the customer will be able to make calls whilst traveling in a taxi, when the taxi is stationary at the taxi rank, and also when the taxi is in its place of residence.

Irene Charnley, Commercial Director at MTN says, "MTN is delighted to have partnered with SANTACO, to deliver this pioneering service to South Africa's taxi industry, and most importantly the millions of South Africans that commute on a daily basis. This initiative will create wealth for the taxi industry, and I am confident that MTN Ring'uvaya will become a hugely successful mobile access system for the masses."

Editorial contact

Kilimanjaro Communication Management Consultants for MTN