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 The turning point |
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A short time before completing 33 years of services as a state-owned communications company, Embratel was privatized on July 29, 1998. The process took place after a wide transformation program started in 1996 with the purpose of converting Embratel into a more responsive company capable of facing the competitive market.
A Customer-focused company
Customer. Customer. Customer. Through this emphatic reiteration Embratel has stressed the importance of those who are the reason for its existence, and has put all its efforts into maintaining and continuing the implementation of high quality services provided in the best possible way. As a consequence, a more responsive and innovative Embratel began to offer to its former and new customers an array of solutions to fulfill the market requirements all the time.
A resounding success: EmVia, DDD Plus, 0800 and ATM
New services supported by advanced technologies were launched as well, including EmVia, ATM, DDD Plus and 0800 Intelligent. As always, aiming at offering additional facilities and quality to customers.
EmVia is an electronic commerce supporting service bringing advanced solutions and IP connectivity to messaging and to the interaction of companies with their vendors and distributors.
The first major application of ATM technology-based services used on long distance networks (WAN) took place with the high speed interconnection of geographically dispersed local networks. Additionally, ATM is used for videoconferencing big files, video distribution, CAD-CAM, tele-medicine, tele-education and entertainment purposes.
DDD Plus Via Embratel offers to customers discounts of as much as 20% in their DDD calls, and enhances productivity and quality as well.
0800 Inteligente service (free calls) has introduced a host of new facilities.
Brasilsat B3 connects the Amazon to the whole country
Brasilsat B3 satellite was launched in February, connecting a few cities of the Amazon region not yeat provided with communication via satellite to the rest of Brazil, and to the whole world. Brasilsat B3, Embratel's third second-generation domestic satellite, came to unburden Brasilsat B2, which was then used for broadcast and cable TV transmissions, telephone and data communication services.
Growth of digitized telephone exchanges
This was a positive year for Embratel's engineering achievements. The SPE - Stored Program Exchange, or digitized telephone exchange junctors mounted from 500 in 1994 to 1.030.000O in 1998, meaning a growth by almost 100% in four years. On that same period, the total Renpac ports grew from 33,000 to 52.400 and the number of ports in the E-1 newtowk increased from 7,300 to 25,400.
Adopting EVA - Economic Value Added
Economic Value Added is a management tool providing the best response to market stimuli and stock rise, lowering the capital price. EVA became Embratel's new business tool.
Quality certifications: the bottom-line of a serious work
The bottom-line was only to be expected. Always concerned with the top quality of its services, Embratel was granted the ISO 9002 certification for the Tanguá and Guaratiba satellite earth stations. One year earlier, the Morungaba earth station had been granted the same award, which was a source of great pride for all its employees.
Ana Paula Arósio goes 21 all over Brasil.
Beautiful actress Ana Paula Arósio is the new face of the long distance telephone service campaign. She invites all users to join Embratel with the "Dial 21? slogan. The 21 became synonymous with Embratel.
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