Ethio Telecom has started offering its closed user group service (CUG), allowing GSM mobile telephone subscribers to make calls and receive calls from members within the group, on both post-paid and prepaid modes, effective August 18, 2013.

Previously, the CUG service was only available on a post-paid basis and outgoing call service would be terminated when the airtime quota is exceeded and customers, however, customers could still take incoming calls.

The new hybrid system prevents service interruption, by allowing customers to top up a post-paid account when the airtime balance is depleted.

“The CUG, which enables calls among an institution’s workers, has so many benefits for organizations. The price is less compared to normal ethio telecom fees,” Abdurahim Ahmed, ethio telecom’s corporate communications director, told Fortune.

“When service is halted, it created obstacles in an institutions’ daily activities and ethio telecom’s revenue was highly affected,” he stated. “This solution allows customers to receive reliable services. Ethio telecom’s revenues will not be determined solely by the post-paid service.” Abdurahim added.

Ethio Telecom launched the  closed user group service a year ago.

Source: Fortune