Psitek rejects tender speculation

By Alex Kayle, Senior portals journalist

Johannesburg, 05 Dec 2008

Cellular and wireless solutions provider Psitek has no intention of competing for a tender for the manufacturing of set-top boxes to be used in the migration to digital terrestrial TV (DTTV) broadcasting, it says.

However, Elprom Electronic Manufacturers, of which Psitek owns 75%, hopes to assist the company that wins the tender, by manufacturing and supplying digital TV set-top boxes.

This follows speculation that Psitek would be one of the five companies to directly compete for a contract to supply set-top boxes. Government has specified that by 1 November 2011, all analogue TV signals will have to be converted into digital.

Psitek director Ian Harrison says: “We've never had any intention to compete for the contract. However, we believe the DTTV set-top boxes will be a great development for the country and it's good that local companies are being involved in the development and manufacturing of the equipment to create business opportunities in SA.”

Harrison adds: “Elprom is a state-of-the-art facility that can assist the winner of the tender. It's an electronic contract manufacturer that will have the technology in place to manufacture the devices. Elprom is well-positioned to provide the manufacturing of the set-top boxes.”

In a statement, Harrison adds that Elprom will offer a manufacturing solution for the set-top boxes from component procurement through to the finished product packing.

Harrison reveals that, in addition, Psitek (which has been operating for 18 years) plans to expand its services into the rest of Africa and South America.

“We are currently in the process of launching our new solution, Access to Information Business, which is designed to provide appropriate connectivity access solutions to the emerging market. Psitek's speciality is to identify and solve cellular problems in emerging markets and develop specific solutions that are appropriate for that environment that we deploy into.”