Cell C, the latest entrant in South Africa`s fiercely contested cellular market, has won over nearly 500 000 subscribers in less than seven months of active trading. Cell C`s chief strategy advisor, Paul Doany, tells Brainstorm that his company racked up 480 000 subscribers by the end of April, with more than 80 000 of these as coveted big-ticket contract subscribers and the balance taking up pre-paid packages.

In terms of its initial budgets and business plan, Cell C had hoped to win around 840 000 subscribers by the end of 2002, with at least 100 000 of those on contracts. Doany is now confident that Cell C will end the year 50 percent above that target, giving the operator a 10 percent share in the cellular market.