The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa recently announced the winning tenders for three underserviced area licences (USALs), bringing the total of licences awarded to nine.
Amatole Telecommunications Services has won the bid for the Amatole region (DC12) of the Eastern Cape (between the Kei and Fish rivers), and has awarded the contract of technical partner to a consortium made up of Tellumat and a large private telecommunications network.
Amatole Telecommunications Services floated a RFP for a technical partner and received proposals from several bidders. In the adjudication process, the value proposition in the collaboration offered a comprehensive turnkey solution with optimal design and minimal risk of failure.
Bevan Booy, director of operations at Amatole Telecommunications Services, says the joint proposal was of an excellent standard.
"We`re looking forward to a long relationship," he says. "Being awarded the USAL means a great deal to us because we can finally act on bridging the digital divide. Our company is made up of people from previously disadvantaged groups, and to be able to play such a meaningful role in this region of SA means a lot to us." Geoff Carey, general manager at Tellumat, says: "The tender was granted to us for many reasons, not least of which is our strong alliance with our bid partner. Tellumat can offer both network infrastructure and CPE (customer premises equipment) devices, while our partner provides the availability of existing high sites in the region, and hosted services on the ground."
Carey says: "Our partner had already performed environmental impact reports on their existing sites, and the time-saving and profitability benefits were clear to Amatole Telecommunications Services. Our bid partner offers network management facilities on a least-basis, to cut down costs. Both operations and business facilities will be provided by our partner on a contract and release basis.
"Tellumat has a strong commercial payphone history," adds Carey, "and we also have extensive experience in microwave radio infrastructure equipment. Part of the Amatole solution will be a first for SA - distributed GSM over IP technology."
Carey adds that operations are expected to start in Q4 of this year, with phase one involving a roll-out of payphone and prepaid services. Phase two should be operating by Q2 2006, with a contract services offering. "We`re excited to be working with the people in the Amatole region because we`ll be providing voice and data services to previously underserviced areas. Part of the business plan is to provide educational institutions with first-time access to computer technology and high-speed communications," he says.
Carey says the most important goal is to provide sustainability. "We`re excited about the growth potential for the region," he says. "We expect business growth because this kind of technology will encourage the entrepreneurial spirit of communities. These communications tools will provide first-time business owners with what they need to become competitive in the modern marketplace. Part of the business plan is to install community payphone shops in the area for community access, so there will be many opportunities for people to start up enterprises like these, using the customised solutions with which we`ve had much success in Africa."
Tellumat is a leading communications hardware and software developer, developing proprietary technology from its manufacturing and development facility in Cape Town. "We`re using local companies and local technology along with international best of breed products," Carey points out. "Our partners existing facility near East London will be hosting the infrastructure, and many of the components that make up the total solution are developed right here. We`re pleased that we can finally offer previously disadvantaged areas the kind of access they need, and using local solutions too," he says.
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