MultiChoice gears up for 2010

The week began with a thorough look at the black empowerment consortium that appears to be eyeing a stake in Vodacom. The proposed investment was initially reported to be around the R8 billion mark, but a senior member of the IT industry, and consortium spokesperson, said Vodacom is not the only investment in the telecoms sector being considered.

On Tuesday, ITWeb brought the bad news that number portability will not be possible until later in the year. It`s frustrating for those who don`t want to lose their existing number, but really want to change service providers. Number portability was expected to be available in July, now it looks like September at the earliest.

We also heard the second potential bidder for Business Connexion (BCX) - the identity of which is a well-kept secret - has withdrawn its expression of interest. Telkom is now, once again, the only interested buyer.

Soon after, we reported that BCX`s board is recommending its shareholders vote in favour of Telkom`s proposed acquisition of the group. Deloitte & Touche Corporate Finance told the board it regards Telkom`s offer as fair. BCX will convene a scheme meeting on 12 June.

Wednesday also brought news that the Limpopo province has awarded a R261 million tender to an unnamed black empowerment consortium that will work closely with IBM to maintain IT systems in the province`s public hospitals.

So firm, in fact, are its intentions, that it has written out a cheque to Sentech for R200 million.

Dave Glazier, junior journalist, ITWeb

The Limpopo Health and Social Development Department tried to keep as quiet as possible on the small matter of wasting almost R200 million of taxpayers` money through failed projects in the late 1990s, but admits to "fruitless expenditure". Details of the tender process are still filing into the newsroom, so look out for updates in the coming days.

Finally, this week saw a positive MultiChoice presentation rather auspiciously named 'Glimpse South Africa`s Future` in Cape Town. The pay-TV operator told a group of media and industry gurus and the communications minister of its firm intentions to provide digital video broadcasting via handheld (DVB-H) to the world in 2010. So firm, in fact, are its intentions, that it has written out a cheque to Sentech for R200 million.

Talking cynically, MultiChoice may simply be riding the World Cup bandwagon to make a name for itself worldwide by coming out with a cell-TV technology before anyone else, anywhere.

But I`d like to hope it is really going out of its way to bring a bunch of traditionally-opposing forces (like itself and the SABC; MTN, Vodacom and Cell C) into business agreements which will prove SA can broadcast the event on a variety of high-quality platforms.