Insurer NMI signs with New T&T for supply of 900 lines
Wharf (Holdings) telecommunications arm New T&T has won a deal to supply 900 lines to National Mutual Insurance - one of its biggest business orders.
The deal boosts its efforts to be seen as the leading threat to Hongkong Telecom's dominance of the local market.
'This contract speaks volumes about the progress we are making in bringing the benefits of competition to Hong Kong,' New T&T director of commercial operations Peter Heavyside said.
Financial terms were not disclosed nor was the contract length, which is 'over' a year.
New T&T's standard price per business line is $100 a month. This puts a nominal price tag of $90,000 a month on the deal, but National Mutual is likely to have negotiated a discount.
National Mutual chief general manager of sales Derek Chan said the number of lines it takes could rise to 4,000.
The lines will allow direct phone-in access to the insurance company's agents, rather than the public needing to go through a switchboard.
The technology behind the lines means National Mutual does not have to install its own in-house operator (pabx) equipment. Instead, this function is handled by New T&T.
This is known as centrex technology.
Mr Heavyside said this service alone would save the customer 50 per cent in the first year.
With this order, New T&T's customer-installed base of business lines rises to 45,000.
New T&T said it was delighted with the reaction to its international direct dial price cuts during the past two weeks, bearing in mind it had only just started television advertising for the new tariff plans.
