SMS Utility paymentSMS Utility paymentGasana Jeff
General Manager SMS Media RwandaSMS Media Rwanda
EAPIC 2008, 16-18 September, Nairobi, Kenya
Company ProfileCompany Profile
SMS Media is mobile media company specializing in SMS information service to cell phones and mobile application development."
The company over the year has supplied value added service to East and central Africa renewed GSM Operator including:renewed GSM Operator including:
- MTN (Rwanda)- MTN and CELTEL (Uganda)
SUPERCELL (D R Congo)- SUPERCELL (D.R. Congo)- ONATEL (BURUNDI) (Soon)
EAPIC 2008, 16-18 September, Nairobi, Kenya
Electrogaz and Electricity prepayement in Rwandaprepayement in Rwanda
ELECTROGAZ is the national utility (water and electricity) company of Rwanda • Rwanda info: 26 340 square meters;• Rwanda info: 26,340 square meters;• 8,000,000 people
Number of electricity customers:79,000• Kigali: 52,000• Up country: 27,000• Prepayment customers: 50 000(Only• Prepayment customers: 50,000(Only
within Kigali)Total Demand: 60MW
EAPIC 2008, 16-18 September, Nairobi, Kenya
Issues & Challenges Issues & Challenges
•Reduce risks: Security staff, high jacking,Reduce risks: Security staff, high jacking,
•Expand vending network (neighborhood) rapidly at no extra cost.
•High cost of printing of paper bill
•Accessibility of services•Accessibility of services
•High infrastructural cost such as internet connection, building of kiosks, maintenance connection, building of kiosks, maintenance cost
EAPIC 2008, 16-18 September, Nairobi, Kenya
Solution:SMS Utility PaymentSMS Utility Payment
SMS Media has developed a solution to pprovide anyone with a cell phone and sufficient fund the possibility to recharge he’s prepayment electricity meter using scratch card.
The solution also allows anyone with a ycell phone and a small capital to purchase a stock of prepaid electricity and the opportunity to become a registered reseller of electricity to consumers.
EAPIC 2008, 16-18 September, Nairobi, Kenya
Direct sales from cell phonesDirect sales from cell phones
1. SMS Media sign a contract of sales of electricity with individuals or business organizations in possession of a individuals or business organizations in possession of a mobile phone and sufficient funds to purchase prepaid electricity stock.
2. Vendors are registered mobile sales to SMS Media administration and get PIN to allow them to enter in the gsystem and protect their sales account.
3. Once registered, the authorized vendors buy a stock of electricity upfront by depositing cash in the SMS Media bank account.
4. Then the cashier credits the vendors account via the web interface for the amount of the electricity stock paid for.
5. The vendor may now sell prepaid electricity up to the y p p y pamount paid and earn commission for the sales.
EAPIC 2008, 16-18 September, Nairobi, Kenya
Buying from Cell phoneBuying from Cell phone
The cons me come to endo s to p chase elect icit and specif The consumer come to vendors to purchase electricity and specify the Amount to be purchasedthe electricity meter numberthe client mobile phone number
Then the vendor send the SMS to SMS Media short number specifying his PIN code, the consumer meter number the amount tobe purchased and consumer cell number if any.
The transaction will be confirmed as complete by an SMS sent to the vendor mobile phone with the 20-Pin voucher; if the client has given his phone number, he will get also the same message,
If not the vendor writes the 20-digit pin voucher on the receipt and If not the vendor writes the 20 digit pin voucher on the receipt and hands to the client.
Then the client enters the Pin code received into his meter at home.
EAPIC 2008, 16-18 September, Nairobi, Kenya
Customer SupportCustomer Support
SMS Media has design a web based interface where call center agents will monitor all transaction and call center agents will monitor all transaction and give support to customers.
SMS Media in partnership with Electrogaz has also goutsourced a private call center company to handle all calls 24 hours a day and 7 days a week
EAPIC 2008, 16-18 September, Nairobi, Kenya
ConnectivityConnectivity
The service utilizes a standard SMPP connection to the SMSC, as well as existing infrastructure, partly developed by SMS Media, for interfacing with the MTN Rwanda network prepaid platform.On the side of Electrogaz we use the e-Vend On the side of Electrogaz we use the e-Vend Graphical vending application which operates within a standard Internet web browser.
SMS Media server which run the e-Vend client have not a database but we operate on-line to the main server of Electrogaz via wide area networks (WAN)networks (WAN).
EAPIC 2008, 16-18 September, Nairobi, Kenya
Utility Payment Server DeploymentDeployment
System1
MTN SMS-CSystem
administration Customer careElectrogaz Server
3
6
SMS Media ServerWireless network
2
3
4
5
LAN
VPN
EAPIC 2008, 16-18 September, Nairobi, Kenya
Advantage of using SMS Utility PaymentPayment
•Easy access to services•Easy access to services
•Social economic impact: create jobs and business opportunity
•Reduce risks at Electrogaz point of sales: Security staff, high jacking.
•Expand vending network (neighborhood) rapidly at no extra cost.
•Make easier for prepaid electricity consumers to purchase •Make easier for prepaid electricity consumers to purchase electricity.
•No infrastructural cost such as internet connection, building of kiosks, maintenance cost…,
•Convenience: Client themselves can buy electricity using their cell phones any where network is available (95% Rwanda).
EAPIC 2008, 16-18 September, Nairobi, Kenya
Thank YouThank You
GASANA JeffGeneral Manager SMS MediaTel: (+250) 08 21 29 55( )E-mail: [email protected] site: www.smsmedia.rwBoulevard de l’Umuganda, KBC BuildingP O Box: 7491P.O. Box: 7491Kigali, Rwanda
EAPIC 2008, 16-18 September, Nairobi, Kenya