The Tonga Communication Corporation TCC on March 10 launched its new $1.8 million pa'anga billing system.

Sales and Marketing Manager, Tai'atu 'Ata'ata, said this morning that the new system is used by telecommunications companies in various parts of the world to network their three services, fixed line network, mobile network and internet. The AvaBill Software has replaced the old billing system that was operated manually.

Tai'atu said that TCC's customers demanded a better billing service, and since May 2007 they had been working with a Sri Lankan company, Informatics International Limited to install the new system.

Tai'atu admitted that the new system is high cost "because the overseas equipment was very expensive and the installation was extensive, at TCC offices in Tongatapu and Vava'u. The new system will be only effective in Tongatapu and Vava'u because this is where a majority of our customers are. The remaining outer islands will be hooked up later."

Efficient

Tai'atu said that with the system all operations would be more efficient and will be automated and accessible widely throughout the company.

"This means if there is a complaint made by a customer or a bill requested they could do so and get the result in a few hours at any booth or station in Tongatapu and Vava'u.

"With the old system these services could only be provided at the main office at Fongoloa, and bills were usually issued a few days after a customer's request.

"In the near future the new Customer Care and Billing system will be able to bill customers in one format if requested. That is receiving one bill for the three main services that TCC offers such as bills for fixed lines, internet and post paid mobile services."

She said that the system will be able to provide real-time billing and enable customers to obtain their outstanding bill amount at any given time and are able to pay at the same time without any delays in payment updates.

Tai'atu said that under the new system all customers will be assigned a new Account Number and can expect to see a new TCC Bill format in their March bill, and customers can continue to make queries about their monthly bill, by either quoting their new account number or their fixed line number.