The Malawi government is implementing a wide area network (WAN), valued at $1.2 million, and a local area network (LAN) for Capital Hill and City Centre Lilongwe, which will result in its first ever computerisation.
The three-phase project being implemented by PQ Africa`s networking division, PQ Networks and funded by The World Bank, will improve internal communications and have a knock-on effect throughout the Malawi economy.
The first phase of the project, known as Malawi GWAN (government wide area network), was completed at the end of November 2000.
The project included extensive training of the Malawi Government by PQ Networks, ensuring proficiency on and readiness for the new system. The second phase of the project will involve the implementation of a LAN for City Centre Lilongwe and the third phase will roll-out a network infrastructure into three remote regions that include 26 districts.
"The project will boost Malawi`s IT infrastructure, enabling us to communicate with international counterparts, ultimately making us more competitive in the international arena," says Olive Chikankheni, director of computer services for the Malawi government.
"We look forward to the second and third phases of the project, and our continued relationship with PQ Networks."
During the Malawi GWAN implementation, PQ Networks worked on a joint venture project with local Malawi IT company, Computer Centre Limited (CCL), to deliver support. Krishna Achuthan, general manager of CCL, believes that the implementation provides a huge growth injection for Malawi as a whole.
"We look forward to working with PQ Networks throughout the three-phased project, sharing knowledge and expertise, and seeing the government realise the benefits of the implementation in the long-term."
The Malawi GWAN is based on Cisco networking technology and involved extensive co-operation between The World Bank, The Malawi Government, CCL and the PQ Africa group.
PQ Networks built the network from the ground-up. This included installing all cabling and fibre optics, as well as designing the complex routed LAN, WAN and switched LAN networks. Additionally, all CCL staff have been extensively trained and have access to the support provided by the PQ Africa group.
Peter Watt, CEO of PQ Africa, believes the project serves as a benchmark for PQ Africa and the African IT industry as a whole, since it is the first implementation of its kind in Malawi. "It is our intention to move further into Africa, empowering as many government and non-government organisations as possible, placing them on a level where they are able to compete internationally."
"It is encouraging to see such active participation between the Malawi Government and PQ Africa. The network solution will go far in improving the Malawi government`s internal and external communications and we hope to see further projects of this nature being implemented across Africa," comments Donald Mthanbe of The World Bank.
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PQ Africa is SA`s leading provider of competitive, innovative and flexible business solutions based on information and communication technology. PQ Africa`s networking division, PQ Networks (PQN) has become the foremost network systems integrator and solutions provider in SA.
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With a support organisation employing spanning some 33 locations throughout Southern Africa, PQN have the capability to service and maintain the computer networks of companies in all market segments supporting differing geographical and service level requirements. This extensive support organisation and the sophisticated customer care centre enable the outsourcing of network services, such as network management, network operations and maintenance, and bandwidth management.
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