Johannesburg, 02 Sep 2014
Neotel, South Africa's first converged communications network operator, is celebrating a number of milestones as it turns eight years old, including approximately 1 000 passionate staff, over 3 000 business customers, growing at 15 times the industry growth rate, now having access to 16 500kms of national fibre, 9 000kms of fibre in the cities, and being the only service provider in the country to have access to all five submarine cable systems as a consortia member.
Neotel CEO and MD, Sunil Joshi, says Neotel can connect customers to 300 cities, across 200 countries, over six continents, seamlessly.
Among its many achievements, it is celebrating its R6 billion investment in fibre-optic infrastructure, which provides an IP-based next-generation network connecting over 42 cities and towns in South Africa, established two world-class Tier 3 data centres in Midrand and Cape Town, and connected all this to Tata Communications' 350 000km of fibre globally.
"Launched by various shareholders from diverse backgrounds in 2006 with a vision to optimise the cost of communications for enterprises and consumers in South Africa, and bringing innovative technologies to SA, enabling customers to leapfrog the technology curve and become more effective and competitive," says Joshi.
He attributes the company's successes to the support from all its customers over the years, despite its mistakes, and the passion and the dedication and commitment from Neotel's 1 000-strong staff, which have made "inspiring possibilities" a way of life. "We are extremely grateful to our customers for their support to creating competition by giving Neotel a chance," says Joshi.
Since starting its operations eight years ago, Neotel has been playing a meaningful role in driving change in the telecommunications sector, with game-changing innovations such as usage-based wide area network (the only offering of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa) and usage-based broadband and many other unique and innovative solutions to its credit.
Recently, Neotel entered into an agreement with the Western Cape government and SITA for the provision of broadband services to approximately 2 000 government buildings, comprising government departments, schools and hospitals over a three-year term with initial speeds of 10Mbps and subsequently 100Mbps to 1Gbps. Neotel will also be delivering 384 WiFi hotspots across the province to provide limited free Internet to constituents. Neotel is delighted to have an opportunity to partner with the Western Cape government on this project of immense strategic nature that will make a difference to South Africa.
"Neotel is also a proud partner of Project Isizwe, which helps drive free WiFi connectivity in the country, thus helping achieve a more connected South Africa," says Joshi.
Industry accolades such as 'Most Innovative Product in ICT' from Frost & Sullivan, and consistently being rated the best fixed broadband service in South Africa, are testament that Neotel has always been heading in the right direction.
Joshi notes that Neotel started with just two people and is now employing approximately 1 000 staff, of which 99.7% are South Africans. The financials book states the company's revenue has also grown from zero to R3.9 billion in revenue in the eight short years of its start-up journey.
He says in the last eight years, the company has learned that while one can prepare for certain outcomes, business cases and spreadsheets don't always work out as planned. "Market variables add uncertainty and one always needs to be able to course-correct and be prepared for headwinds and obstacles.
"Our people are our greatest asset, they have made Neotel what it is today. The company's tag line, 'inspiring possibilities', is the best way to describe our differentiator. Because at Neotel, we challenge the status quo in everything we do," Joshi says.
Future plans for the company include the continued expansion of its fibre and wireless network in South Africa and bringing innovative solutions to its customers. "Our focus will be in game changing the industry with pay-as-you-use or consumption-based services, while enabling voice and video solutions that help businesses and people collaborate," concludes Joshi.
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