This week was dominated by two massive multinational acquisitions, with a combined value of almost $10 billion. Firstly, semiconductor giant Advanced Micro Devices bought Canadian chipset and consumer electronics company ATI Technologies for $5.4 billion on Monday.
Then late on Tuesday night, news started circulating that HP had acquired the IT management, software and services company Mercury Interactive, for $4.5 billion. Though neither of these two deals are expected to have any local impact anytime soon, a closer look at the recent history of HP SA is extremely interesting.
Swiftnet rejuvenates BEE push
Monday also saw an empowerment consortium, consisting of small and medium enterprises and led by Digital IQ, lodging an expression of interest to bid for 30% voting shares in Swiftnet, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Telkom. Swiftnet`s wireless data licence requires that a BEE partner hold a minimum of 30% of its shares, but all previous talks with prospective BEE partners have failed.
SARS scraps another tender
Newspapers reported later in the week that one of the three consortiums spent R10 million preparing its bid.
Dave Glazier, journalist, ITWeb
Tuesday brought the rather disappointing news that the South African Revenue Service (SARS) had scrapped another big tender. The R1.5 billion customs scanners tender, designed to make ports safer and more secure, is now back at the beginning - as is the voice and data networks tender. Newspapers reported later in the week that one of the three consortiums spent R10 million preparing its bid.
T-Systems serious about Tetra network
T-Systems told ITWeb it would formulate a business case over the next two months to supply a terrestrial trunked radio (Tetra) network for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Since the company was closely involved with this year`s World Cup in Germany, few would argue it doesn`t have the expertise or experience to build the network.
MTN awards R106m call centre contract
Yesterday, ITWeb brought news that cellular operator MTN had awarded a R106 million call centre contract to Interaction Call Centres - a joint venture between Dialogue Group and black-owned Tlhalefang Placements. MTN says the centre, in KwaZulu-Natal, will create 400 new jobs.
This week MTN also increased its stake in its own Ugandan operation (MTN Uganda) by buying a 13% stake from Rwanda-based investment holding company Tri-Star Investments for R384.7 million. It now owns 97.34% of the company.
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