Fact-checking Blue Label statements about Cell C's biggest assets

[Jan]

Cell C fact-check

Blue Label Telecoms co-CEO Brett Levy said they are upbeat about Cell C’s prospects because it has five excellent assets.

These assets are Cell C’s brand, spectrum, assessed losses, the prepaid engine, and the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) market.

 

[r00igev@@r]

Selling ice to the Eskimos and sand to the Arabs, boet.

 

[SHL]

Cell C fact-check

Blue Label Telecoms co-CEO Brett Levy said they are upbeat about Cell C’s prospects because it has five excellent assets.

These assets are Cell C’s brand, spectrum, assessed losses, the prepaid engine, and the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) market.

I want whatever Brett is smoking.

 

[Pak Fa Fui]

Spectrum is an asset but now that everyone has it and are not as desperate as they were 3 years ago even that has depreciated significantly
The other 4 are not assets

 

[Johand]

So, while Cell C does not have a 5G network, its improved 4G coverage gives it the opportunity to grow its subscriber base with attractive products.

Improved coverage? I am not sure what deal they have with Vodacom but I don't see improved 4G coverage since they moved me to Vodacom. I fact my reception went to hell -- I will have terrible reception even though a Vodacom contract subscriber standing next to me will have wonderful reception.

However, a group of South Africans prefer to support an underdog — instead of Vodacom and MTN — which is where Cell C is strong.

I am all for supporting the underdog but then I expect some service. No need to shoot myself in the foot just because I am supporting the underdog (I am okay with limping a little bit, but I still want to be able to walk).

 

[ToxicBunny]

Cell C fact-check

Blue Label Telecoms co-CEO Brett Levy said they are upbeat about Cell C’s prospects because it has five excellent assets.

These assets are Cell C’s brand, spectrum, assessed losses, the prepaid engine, and the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) market.

Yeah I'm not buying what Brett is smoking to be honest.

The fact that Cell C is an MVNO itself now on other operators networks, means I'd rather just go to the operator who has the network themselves since they will prioritise their own customers over the MVNO customers really.

 

[MrGray]

Whether or not the last two have any value comes down to execution. They do seem to be making the mvno operation slicker, and it there are signs of growth there, plus it also looks like they might be poised to take the lead in the e-sim market which could be a game changer. Imagine that while other operators are still stuffing around with physical sims they (and their mvnos) can sell and provision numbers online by just scanning a qr code.

 

[MrGray]

Yeah I'm not buying what Brett is smoking to be honest.

The fact that Cell C is an MVNO itself now on other operators networks, means I'd rather just go to the operator who has the network themselves since they will prioritise their own customers over the MVNO customers really.

Yeah but they pioneered the MVNO platform and have decades of experience now with it. Maybe it actually makes long term sense to move away from the physical infrastructure here - it's becoming more commoditised anyway.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Yeah but they pioneered the MVNO platform and have decades of experience now with it. Maybe it actually makes long term sense to move away from the physical infrastructure here - it's becoming more commoditised anyway.

I'm not 100% sure that actually applies all that well at the national carrier grade level... each network will be tuned quite extensively and if you move to a commoditised platform, you lose that "advantage" really.

Also being an MVNO provider is a different kettle of fish to being an MVNO "customer" as it were.

 

[Fragman]

Just a shame their customer service centre is pretty much useless