While there is no doubt the global economy is in bad shape, Paul Luff, country manager of SMC Networks SA, believes networks remain a critical tool for surviving the financial storm, and also the key to the innovation necessary to thrive.
As the reliability, price and features of networks have evolved, they have exerted consistent influence on the networking environment, helping to keep the network at the forefront of ICT strategies. Luff says this is because a modern network is “...quite literally the hub of control for most businesses, irrespective of size, focus and budget”.
Luff notes the need for modern businesses to leverage technology while optimising organisational efficiency and delivering improved services have driven the rate of adoption of solutions within the networking space.
He says this is no more apparent than within the local service industry, as evidenced by hotels, B&Bs and the retail sector's eager integration of technology into their service offerings, Internet access and wireless hotspots chief among them. In SA in particular, the adoption rate is further fuelled by the opportunities afforded by the approaching 2010 World Cup.
Luff says SA continues to experience growth in local broadband and wireless infrastructure, and an increase in high specification wireless networks that feed into it is helping to develop a niche market.
Manufacturers and vendors are taking note of this ongoing trend, hence the proliferation of 10G networking equipment and 'metro switching', the intelligent handling of packet-based access by network switches. Luff says the local market can expect even more growth in the 10G wired communications arena in the future.
He expects the consumer will develop the ability to make informed decisions on ICT investment, and this will play a critical role in the mobile solutions and digital lifestyle purchase space.
While the global financial crisis deepens, Luff believes there are local positives that can be built on, like the future lower cost of broadband, fibre-to-home and the advent of HDTV, which will all add a new dimension to the South African market.
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