Africa’s cell phone mania keeps Fast International flying high

Uganda has 400 000 subscribers Leonard Neill INTERNAL STRIFE hasn’t stopped Rwanda from getting into full communication with the outside world. Fast International GSA recently flew a total of 170 tons of telecommunications equipment out of Johannesburg in a 10-day period to assist the development. “We used four different aircraft to provide the country with a cell phone network in what was probably a record time-span,” says managing director Gary Murphy. His company lined up four freighters - a DC10, DC8, Ilyushin 76 and Antonov AN-12 - which were loaded in turn as the various components were collated, passed through customs and cleared by an inspection company. These included towers, antennae, micro dishes, computers and their security containers, generators, maintenance equipment and fencing required for the establishment of the network. “We’ve handled a number of similar deliveries to other African nations, but none in such rapid time,” says Murphy. “Africa is fast becoming cell phone covered and mainly with equipment from South Africa. “Uganda, for example, has 400 000 subscribers using an average US$28 air time a month per person. It shows the value of these networks, and we are already working on the next roll-out which is on its way to another destination where we are negotiating.” Fast International also answered an emergency call from a mining group in Rwanda last month when a turbine, which had brought workings on the location to a halt, had to be repaired. An Ilyushin aircraft was flown to the site and loaded the 6.5 ton item. This was flown to Johannesburg and then on to Port Elizabeth where it was repaired and returned to site. “The equipment was loaded in Rwanda on the aircraft on a Friday, and arrived in PE the next day,” says Murphy. “The company attending to it worked through the weekend and had it ready for loading on Tuesday night when it was flown straight back to the mine. “We did this in conjunction with Safcor Panalpina where their Deon van Niekerk and our man Dave Purchase worked tirelessly to get the matter attended to without delay. That’s what I call service!”