DiData expands in West Africa

Johannesburg, 01 Nov 2007

Dimension Data has acquired Accelon, a communications services company operating in Nigeria and Ghana, for an undisclosed sum.

"The Accelon acquisition has been structured in line with DiData`s and Internet Solutions` (IS) African strategy of focusing on local empowerment through local ownership," says Dimension Data Middle East and Africa CEO Allan Cawood.

"The acquisition also aligns to DiData`s and IS` strategic intent of increasing our presence, and our solutions and services offerings, in Sub-Saharan Africa," he adds.

"Accelon has built a strong reputation in the broadband data telecommunications sector."

Accelon offers broadband services ranging from Internet access to data and voice communication solutions to large enterprises, government and public sector agencies. The company`s client base includes national and international brands, including UBA Group, Ecobank, Bank PHB and Unilever.

Cawood says the acquisition will bring significant benefits to DiData in terms of a complementary team of 70 skilled and experienced employees that will join over 100 existing DiData employees in West Africa.

It will also enable an expanded presence to Ghana, as well as a strong client base and partnerships with global vendors such as Hughes Network Systems and SES Global, he notes.

Beefing up

Vernon van Rooyen, who has been appointed as COO, joins the existing management team.

"The demand for telecommunications in West Africa is increasing rapidly and this demand from a volume perspective is accompanied by an increasing demand for quality telecommunications solutions and services," adds Jacques Rautenbach, IS GM, Middle East and Africa.

"The access to global best practice in terms of implementation, operations and management that DiData and IS offer, combined with the experienced and skilled on the ground team with local knowledge for execution, will bring a new level of service delivery to the market," Rautenbach adds.

DiData West Africa chairman Ositah Egbuche also praised the deal. "This acquisition confirms DiData`s commitment to investing in the West African market, to ensure businesses and consumers are connected via reliable, quality telecommunications systems."

The acquisition is subject to the finalisation of regulatory requirements.