The verdict in three sentences
A tower company with 1,100 sites based in Singapore that coordinates backup generators, batteries and field engineers through chat groups and spreadsheets leaks 3 to 6% of its fuel and a real share of revenue in SLA penalties. Custom maintenance software linking geolocated tickets, fuel and battery telemetry and per-site availability gives the head of operations a reliable, site-by-site view. At Kolonell, this kind of application costs 2.5 to 15M+ FCFA (about SGD 5,500 to 33,000+, or EUR 3,810 to 22,870+) depending on complexity, versus SGD 110,000 to 270,000 for international suites.
What managing by chat group really costs
In Singapore the grid is reliable, but towercos often run regional portfolios across Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines where generators and hybrid solar remain common. Contracts with operators (Singtel, StarHub, M1, SIMBA and regional carriers) require 99.5% availability, about 3.6 hours of tolerated downtime per site per month. Beyond that, penalties apply. The problem is informational rather than technical: nobody knows in real time which site is low on fuel, which engineer is on the way and which fault is already fixed.
| Loss item (1,100-site portfolio) | Chat group + spreadsheet | With dedicated software | 2026 order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel theft and variances (regional sites) | 3 to 6% of volume | 1 to 2% | SGD 25,000 to 60,000 per month recoverable |
| Operator SLA penalties | SGD 70 to 400 per hour of downtime | 40 to 60% reduction | SGD 20,000 to 55,000 per month |
| Mean time to repair | 4 to 7 hours | 2 to 3 hours | 0.3 to 0.6 point availability gain |
| Monthly SLA reports | 6 to 10 days of compilation | Automatic, D+1 | 1 to 2 FTE freed |
| Preventive visits completed | 60 to 75% of plan | 90% and above | Fewer rectifier and battery failures |
| Operator billing disputes | Frequent, no timestamped proof | Proof per ticket and photo | Cash collected 15 to 30 days faster |
Energy often accounts for 25 to 40% of a regional towerco's operating costs. Cutting variances by a few points is usually enough to fund the project within a quarter.
Essential modules and their cost
Useful towerco software does not try to do everything. It covers four flows: the site portfolio and its equipment, energy, interventions and SLA. Engineers use an offline-capable mobile app, essential for remote sites outside Singapore where coverage drops.
| Module | Key features | Indicative Kolonell budget | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site register | Tower records, GPS, co-located operators, equipment, history | 2.5 to 4M FCFA (SGD 5,500 to 8,800) | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Energy and fuel | Deliveries, tank readings, IoT sensors, variance alerts, supplier reconciliation | 3 to 5M FCFA (SGD 6,600 to 11,000) | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Intervention tickets | Auto-creation on alarm, engineer geolocation, photos, sign-off | 3 to 5M FCFA (SGD 6,600 to 11,000) | 4 to 6 weeks |
| SLA and penalties | Availability per site and operator, monthly reports | 2 to 4M FCFA (SGD 4,400 to 8,800) | 3 to 4 weeks |
| NOC and monitoring integration | Alarm feeds, API with existing monitoring tools | Custom quote | Variable |
| Full multi-country platform | Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, multi-currency SGD, MYR, IDR | 15M+ FCFA (SGD 33,000+) | 4 to 6 months |
The core (register, energy, tickets) usually starts around 8 to 12M FCFA (SGD 17,500 to 26,500). Integrations with a NOC, an ERP or specific sensors are quoted after a scoping workshop.
How to scope the project without getting lost
Start with a pilot cluster of 100 to 150 sites. Measure three indicators for 60 days: fuel variance, mean time to repair and penalty hours. Require exportable data, controlled hosting compliant with Singapore's PDPA and distinct roles for maintenance subcontractors, supervisors and management. Finally, plan field training: an engineer who does not understand the app will keep sending photos to the chat group.
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Daniel, COO of a 1,100-site tower company headquartered in Singapore, burns about 420,000 litres of diesel per month on regional sites at SGD 1.90 per litre, or SGD 798,000. With 5% variance, the loss reaches SGD 39,900 per month. After deploying the energy and ticketing modules (budget of 11M FCFA, about SGD 24,000), variances fall to 2% in year one: SGD 23,900 saved per month. SLA penalties drop from SGD 36,000 to SGD 18,000 per month. Payback comes in under one month of operation, excluding sensor costs.
FAQ
Does the software work without coverage on remote sites?
Yes, the engineer app works offline and syncs when the connection returns. Readings, photos and signatures are timestamped locally, so they keep their value as proof. On regional portfolios, 15 to 25% of sites have unstable data coverage.
Do we need IoT fuel sensors from day one?
No, you can start with photographed, verified tank readings. Sensors, at SGD 200 to 550 per site, are then rolled out on the 20% of sites that consume most or face the highest theft risk.
How much does towerco maintenance software cost at Kolonell?
From 2.5 to 15M+ FCFA (about SGD 5,500 to 33,000+) depending on complexity. A core of sites, energy and tickets sits around 8 to 12M FCFA; NOC or ERP integrations are quoted separately.
Can we produce the SLA reports operators expect?
Yes, availability is calculated per site, per co-located operator and per month, with incident details. The report is ready at D+1 instead of 6 to 10 days of manual compilation.
How long does a first rollout take?
Allow 8 to 12 weeks for a pilot on 100 to 150 sites, then 2 to 3 months to extend to the full portfolio.
Let's scope your project. Send us your portfolio size, operator clients and current tools: we will price the scope, indicative budget and pilot schedule. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
