ICOZA - Extending your ISP services reach

ICOZA is a South African BEE empowered Tier 1 ISP, offering a complete range of ISP and Value Added Services to support client`s connectivity and e-Business infrastructure requirements.

ICOZA entered the ISP market nearly 2 years ago, and allowed itself the opportunity to break into the vast communications arena, delivering connectivity and advanced ISP services to key sectors of the South African market, both public and private. ICOZA has evolved a range of value adding solutions to enable e-Business and e-Government applications.

Says Rodney de Koch, CEO of ICOZA: "In the mature market of Tier1 ISP providers in South Africa, we have developed a different value proposition to the ISP industry at large. In addition to the 100 plus ISP solution products we have in our basket through our relationship with IS (Internet Solutions) we having additional offerings that allow us to differentiate completely from other ISP offerings. This includes forming partnerships with strategic partners that allow us engage end-to-end with our customers and provide them with the extended ISP services that they require."

Apart from offering `standard` Tier 1 ISP services to key clients in both the public and private sectors who require dial, connectivity, hosting, VPN and security services,

ICOZA offers the latest solutions in IP based Wireless/WiFi platforms to enable the installation of Hotspots, together with Authentication and Billing packages. ICOZA will be able to provide other customer branded Broadband and Media services through this network and develop more profitable revenue sharing schemes. Broadband services enable the Streaming of Multimedia content in a world of converging media.

ICOZA is an outsource partner for multi-channel commerce and relationship marketing solutions. As a natural extension to its services, ICOZA`s e-Business Infrastructure Services offer an application infrastructure service, which presents our customers with the opportunity of moving into the Web Services space.

The promise of future e-Government is going to place a great demand on delivery timely and cost effective services to citizens and customers alike. ICOZA offers e-Billing solutions that enable invoices to be delivered electronically, including web-presentation, email delivery, fax transmission, and SMS delivery of notification or summary billing data to customers.

In addition e-Marketing will come into its own through the increasing adoption of electronic channels by businesses and consumers which presents marketers with arguably the most efficient and accessible tools for communication.

ICOZA is developing an African footprint through synergestic partnerships and collaboration agreements.

There are a number of delivery challenges facing internet service providers that will greatly benefit users during the course of this year:

* the increasing adoption of broadband;
* leveraging evolving technology solutions to grow the market and spread access, especially in the wireless and mobile solutions spaces;
* creating linkage between content development and the next phases of value-added services through multimedia multichannel offerings; and
* taking advantage of legalised VoIP and its implications for all existing carriers.

The new second national operators (SNO) Eskom and Transtel, will see the strongest potential for long-term growth residing in internet broadband access and corporate data services. One of the global growth areas in telecom is VoIP (voice over IP) technology, and it is to be seen when legislation will allow users to take advantage of this cost-saving technology.

As the South Africa`s telecommunications market enters a new era characterised by deregulation and technological advances, ICOZA assists users in taking advantage of next-generation networks; to develop effective IP migration strategies; and to capitalise on growing Internet usage.

Another key player in the South African telecom market is Sentech which offers high-end VSTAR bi-directional broadband satellite access services, the new broadband Internet service MyWireless, as well as Vivid, a special satellite decoder that allows radio and television broadcasts to anywhere in the country. Sentech joined the ranks of the large ICT players when it acquired two additional licenses, one for the carrier of carriers and the other one for multimedia services, allowing Sentech to carry voice traffic on behalf of local and international operators as well as offering broadband wireless services.

The South African telecom services market will remain the most valuable and dynamic telecom market segment. However, the rules, dynamics and structure of the market are changing dramatically, and will have a direct impact and influence on key players, operators and service providers. It will require a different approach to business to stay successful and profitable.

"With increased competition in the telecom space, increasing pressure will be put on pricing and the competitively bundled value-added offerings and increased services levels available from your ISP supplier", emphasises Mr. Rodney de Koch. "The challenge is to build solid customer relationships and loyalty bases that set us apart from our competitors".