Pretoria-based telecoms consultant Africa Analysis has formed an agreement to work on certain client projects with international technology analyst and advisor, Ovum Consulting.
"Africa appears to be becoming a very penetrable market for the larger global telecoms players," said Dobek Pater, partner and analyst at Africa Analysis.
He explained his firm will benefit from having access to Ovum`s extensive databases and libraries, as well as to Ovum`s global thinking and broad knowledge of markets and trends.
"And while we are able to tap into these resources; the benefit to Ovum should be that we are in tune with local markets," he said.
Projects beginning
Tom McKeever, a director at Ovum Consulting, was visiting SA late last week.
Indicating the reason for his visit was that Ovum and Africa Analysis were already working on a client project together, he explained the benefits of teaming up with the local analyst firm:
"We are entering in to the partnership for two main reasons: the recognition that Africa is an exciting market and that it`s important for us to be part of that; and because of the experience of Africa Analysis in local markets."
Though McKeever said Africa is a unique market (or comprises unique elements), he believes some trends and characteristics in global markets "transcend" to Africa.
"Certain advertising models, business models and technology that have worked in other places can be brought into the African context. Technology is a global phenomenon - 3G and mobile TV are good examples of this."
Excellent interest
"Interest in our partnership [with Ovum] by African telecoms companies has been excellent," said Africa Analysis MD Andre Wills. "Regulators and telecoms companies today need advice steeped in developing market understanding, but shaped by global experience."
In a statement, Ovum consulting said it has delivered more than a dozen projects in sub-Saharan African regions in the past 18 months, and believes a combined consulting team broadens its delivery capability.
The financial arrangements of the partnership involve the revenue from projects worked on by the two companies being shared on a percentage basis, concluded Pater.
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