Ten years ago, while First World countries enjoyed the sophistication of the information highway, the convenience of e-mail and the understated security of cellphones, emerging countries, such as SA, struggled to understand why all these communication elements were necessary, especially in business.
"It is only when we re-examine the thought processes that existed in this country 10 years ago, that one realises how much the IT and telecommunications industry has evolved into a fundamental business enabler and in turn an essential economic driver in Africa," says Dave Meintjes, CEO of UUNET SA.
UUNET were at the forefront of the telecommunication industry`s growth being the first Internet service provider in SA. Known a decade ago as The Internet Company of South Africa (TICSA), having developed from one Sun box, 1 Cisco router and 2 PC routers, to an organisation, 10 years down the line, that now has five operations around Africa and over 300 employees.
Meintjes continues: "Through our unparalleled technology sophistication, dedicated employees and industry leadership, UUNET has transformed the concept of the information and transmission highway into advanced, effective and efficient communication capabilities for the development of the economy and country as a whole.
"At UUNET, we view the past 10 years as the cornerstone to Internet implementation, acceptance and development in SA and the following 10 as the next journey to the expansion and evolution of its communication demands," says Meintjes. "This, however, would not be possible without the unrivalled support and commitment from all sector participants to making this industry what it is today. When one considers the transformation that has been achieved in the past decade, it is important to reflect on this accomplishment as an industry and praise the relevant organisations, industry associations and individuals that have been elementary to its origin."
UUNET SA is southern Africa`s only pan-African provider of Internet-based network solutions and is the largest global carrier of Internet traffic. The company provides Internet connectivity and corporate network solutions to major corporations as well as access services to Internet service providers.
All UUNET SA products and solutions are delivered within the required regulatory conditions.
For more information, please visit the UUNET SA Web site on www.uunet.co.za.
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