SA`s largest supplier of corporate Internet connectivity, Internet Solutions (IS), is extending its international profile. This follows parent company, Dimension Data, acquiring a 20% stake in UK-based Internet infrastructure supplier, BIS, for about R22 million. Japanese investment bank, Nomura, has invested R44 million.
"BIS is almost identical to IS in terms of the services it offers," says Brett Dawson, joint-managing director of IS.
"As a result of the investment, we will become operationally responsible for BIS. We already offer services in London and plan to roll-out new services in Paris and Frankfurt before the end of the year. Over time we expect to have a presence in 15 major cities around the world," he says.
London-based BIS offers Internet connectivity for companies as well as hosting services and virtual private network (VPN) services for voice and data. A VPN is a facility whereby companies share network infrastructure in order to reduce costs. Their traffic remains private and the VPN is managed by companies like BIS and IS.
Says Dawson: "We want to establish a global footprint for IS and we will offer all our current services to South African firms operating abroad as well as to organisations in those countries. This acquisition will enable us to provide infrastructure solutions to global businesses enabling them to meet their e-commerce requirements."
BIS already has 300 customers in the shipping and insurance industries. The Dimension Data stake in BIS is reminiscent of the early investment it made into IS before acquiring it outright in 1997.
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Internet Solutions (IS) is SA`s leading provider of infrastructure foundations for electronic business and the forerunner in providing companies with effective connectivity solutions.
At present, they connect over 1 500 organisations to the Internet and over 3 000 sites through their range of VPN Solutions, thus forming the primary electronic business community in SA.
IS offers a fully managed environment together with expertise in areas such as Internet access, VPNs, hosting, dial-up, security and data management. Their best-of-breed infrastructure is without equal and has been the preferred choice of leading companies since 1993.
As the Internet industry leader, IS is also dedicated to sharing its success with others by providing improved access to education and information to all South Africans, particularly previously disadvantaged communities.
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