Network operators can be independently audited, while technical and financial performance is monitored in real time

Based on its recent research on the telecommunications management and supervision technology market, Frost & Sullivan presents Global Voice Group with the 2014 Sub-Saharan Africa Frost & Sullivan Award for Technology Innovation. Global Voice Group has developed unique telecommunications management and supervision technologies specifically aimed at the end-user groups of telecommunications and revenue regulatory authorities. Using these technologies, regulatory authorities are able to collect independent market data, thus reducing their dependence on the self-declarations of the network operators.

Regulators usually generate income by levying a percentage of the network operators’ revenue as a contribution or tax. However, they do so based on the operators’ self-declarations. GlobalVoice Group’s solutions enable the regulator to monitor and audit theoperators’ performance in real time, and thus to detect discrepanciesin information.

"Acknowledging that each country and its telecommunications regulatory authority has different needs, the company develops and designs customised technology to suit the specific regulatory requirements of each country,” said Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Naila Govan-Vassen.
"In addition to developing software, Global Voice Group also provides customers with industry-standard hardware and telecoms equipment to implement its service offerings."

Global Voice Group's innovative technologies have been implemented in many countries in Africa, including Tanzania, Rwanda, Liberia, Togo, Senegal, Congo-Brazzaville, Guinea, Ghana, and the Central African Republic. One of the key technologies developed for the African continent is the Interconnection Management System (IMS™), which allows for the collection, management, transmission, centralisation and processing of data from the operators’ networks (mobile, fixed and IP) within a country.

The group also offers billing applications that enable the regulator to create accurate invoices based on comprehensive signalling data collected at the source, as well as a fraud management system that helps to efficiently monitor and capture bypass fraud. Additionally, its Quality of Service monitoring system allows regulators to monitor key quality of service indicators in real time through web interfaces.

In line with the growing popularity of m-commerce, Global Voice Group developed a solution to monitor the m-banking sector and detect different types of fraud, as well as potential cross-border irregularities. Similarly, noting that value added tax collection is a key income generator for the continent, Global Voice Group developed an electronic fiscal solution that facilitates quick and easy VAT collection.

The key to Global Voice Group services’ functionality is its build, operate and transfer business model, whereby the company makes its technology available to regulatory authorities and governments without the latter having to make any upfront payment. Importantly, all its services comply with International Telecommunication Union standards.

It is important to note that Global Voice Group’s customer base is exclusively composed of telecommunications regulatory authorities and government agencies. However, the overall impact on customer value is significant, as the extra revenue generated for the State can be used to improve quality of service and to reach underserved areas.

"Overall, Global Voice Group’s solutions and tools enable both the operators and the regulatory authorities to optimise the revenues from the telecommunications industry," noted Govan-Vassen. "They guarantee transparency and efficiency in international gateway monitoring, reduce fraud on international calls and control network qualityand integrity."

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated uniqueness in developing and leveraging new technologies, which significantly impacts both the functionality and the customer value of the new products and applications. The award lauds the high R&D spending towards innovation, its relevance to the industry and the positive impact on brand perception.

Frost & Sullivan’s Best Practices Awards recognise companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.