MTN's coverage keeps expanding to meet the needs of the burgeoning cellphone market in both South Africa and north of our borders. To keep track of their infrastructure, MTN prints a large number of maps of both current mast locations and of regions of planned expansion.

MTN's Geographic Information Systems Department has the task of planning the network that gives MTN users the coverage they want to keep talking. This monumental and ongoing job requires that the systems analysts doing the planning use a lot of visualisation to reflect the dynamics and complexities of the MTN network. The analysts accomplish this by means of a full set of satellite and aerial photographs distributed to them on the MTN intranet. However, hard copies of these maps are often needed in the field for training the MTN service providers and retail distributors.

MTN purchased a Hewlett- Packard HP1055 printer from Protea Graphics in January to help improve the speed and efficiency with which the pressurised department can get the maps printed. Alex Zaloumis, Systems Analyst in MTN's Geographic Information Systems chose the HP1055 for a number of reasons. "Speed is crucial in our environment. We need high colour and high resolution, as we print maps with a huge amount of detail. We need to show the field staff exactly where on a given erf to construct a mast. In essence, we were looking for a cost-effective printer with the latest technology. We looked at ink usage, and the time required to calibrate the machine when we install new ink cartridges. The HP 1055 not only saves time; it is more economical to run. The HP1055 gives us all we need," said Zaloumis.

"We chose to deal with Protea Graphics because they were quick to respond to our needs. Mike Tymvios is always available to us: to quote, or deliver, or install. He and the Protea team have a real willingness to be on the ball. A company like MTN needs suppliers like that!" she concluded.

Protea Graphics

(011) 887 2626