EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Vodacom Community Services, a program of Vodacom, South Africa’s largest cellular phone company, is a successful example of how business and government can work together to achieve significant social and economic goals. Community Services began under a 1994 government mandate to provide telecommunications services in under-serviced, disadvantaged communities. Vodacom’s development of an innovative way to meet this mandate, via entrepreneur-owned and operated phone shops, has both provided affordable communication services to millions of South Africans and empowered thousands of previously disadvantaged individuals with income-generating opportunities and lasting business skills. The Community Services program now provides over 23,000 cellular lines at over 4,400 locations throughout South Africa.

BUSINESS MODEL
Vodacom Community Services provides telecommunications services in townships and other disadvantaged communities at government-mandated prices that are well below commercial rates. The program, although initially subsidized by Vodacom, now covers its costs with revenue from sales. The Community Services model emphasizes the establishment of phone shop franchises, owned and operated by local entrepreneurs from within disadvantaged communities. At a cost of about R 26,000 (US$3,450), prospective owners can start a franchise to operate five cellular lines in a pre-approved location. These franchises, commonly called “phone shops” and often operating from converted shipping containers, offer phone service to the neighboring community. Vodacom also invests about R 30,000 (US$3,950) per franchise for the modified shipping container to house the phone shop. The result is affordable access for communities and a tangible step toward Vodacom’s ultimate goal of providing all South Africans with access to mobile communications.

The phone shops are independent, entrepreneur-owned businesses, but the products and services they offer are simple and consistent. At any Community Services phone shop in the country, a consumer can make a phone call for a set rate of R.85 (US$.11) per minute, less than one-third the commercial rate for pre-paid cellular calls. Some phone shops also provide fax and data services, and the number of phone shops offering these services is expected to increase. However, phone shops cannot accept incoming calls and thus do not provide voicemail or other ways for customers to receive messages. While it is technically possible to receive incoming calls, issues such as availability of phones to accommodate incoming calls and calculating prepayment make it logistically impractical today.

Entrepreneurs pre-pay Vodacom for calls on their phones at rates that retain one-third of calling revenue for themselves. The volume of calls at most phone shops is such that entrepreneurs can cover their costs and make a profit, despite the low price. A well-located phone shop with five lines, for example, typically experiences more than 100 hours of calling per month per phone line, generating total monthly revenues of R 27,000 (US$3,550), with R 9,000 (US$1,190) of that as revenue to the entrepreneur. Brand recognition is an important component of the business model. Vodacom supplies franchisees with converted shipping containers that provide secure and affordable facilities and goes to great lengths to ensure that the phone shops are easily identified. Most South Africans easily recognize the “Vodacom green” shipping containers that dot the landscape of many communities.

The phone shops leverage the extensive reach of Vodacom’s cellular infrastructure that currently provides coverage to 93% of South Africa’s 44 million citizens. Though established to support traditional cellular plans, it also enables the Community Services program to potentially provide services to the vast majority of disadvantaged South Africans. For a relatively modest investment in phone shop set-up costs, Vodacom and entrepreneurs are able to serve a very large number of customers that benefit from the program. Facilities and equipment make up the bulk of these costs. Vodacom provides and maintains the modified containers, while owners are responsible for all equipment inside the phone shop.

The Community Services program currently partners with 1,800 entrepreneurs who operate over 4,400 phone shops at sites throughout South Africa. Vodacom works with the entrepreneurs to provide the training and direction which is needed to assist operational success. Each phone shop is under the sole ownership of the entrepreneur and Vodacom is not liable for damages, theft, or business mismanagement. There is little risk of bankruptcy for phone shop owners given the requirement to pre-pay for services; however, profits can be dependent on the management skills of the owner. Vodacom offers owners business insight and a running start, but limits its involvement past ongoing training. An entrepreneur’s ultimate success or failure is largely contingent on his or her own skills.


DEVELOPMENT BENEFIT
The Community Services model is successful because it offers a basic and vital service to disadvantaged communities at affordable prices. Concurrently, it creates entrepreneurial opportunities for thousands of prospective business owners, generating jobs and higher incomes. In fact, it is only through the entrepreneurial nature of the program that Vodacom is able to reach the three to four million customers who make close to 100 million calls a month. On its own, Vodacom would be challenged to operate and maintain the number of phone shops that now exist throughout the country. The wide geographical distribution and high number of local operations would make management costs prohibitive for Vodacom. Additionally, phone shop owners are in a better position to assess the needs of local communities.

A local phone shop can be a valuable convenience to a South African. Affordable access to a phone allows families separated for mobile or migrant employment reasons to keep in touch and manage family needs more effectively. Some individuals use phone shops to pay bills and order personal effects. Professionals within the community rely on phone shops to conduct businesses more efficiently. Delivery drivers use the phones to keep in touch with headquarters or to report problems on their route. The result is a more functional community.

Phone shops also provide individuals with access to a range of social services which can contribute to an improved standard of living. Calling a doctor or seeking medical advice is now more possible. Consistent access to basic services such as electricity, sanitation, and water remains a problem within townships, and phone shops allow individuals to report service outages and emergencies. Ultimately, access to widespread and consistent services helps to facilitate the empowerment of individuals in South African townships.


KEY LESSONS
By investing so extensively in disadvantaged communities, Vodacom is investing in its own future, building a distribution channel for its services. It is also generating traffic that leverages the extensive cellular infrastructure it has already built. As South Africa progresses economically, and as traditional cellular plans become ever more popular, Vodacom is already seeing an increase in the number of people who own cell phones in disadvantaged communities. Familiar with the Vodacom brand because of the services rendered through Vodacom phone shops, many people feel most comfortable purchasing their first cellular service plan through the trusted name. Though significant returns may be well into the future, Vodacom is confident that its investments will pay off both directly through sales, and indirectly by building a stronger, more connected, and economically vibrant South Africa.


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