Savant is a public, private sector partnership in the ICTe (information and communication technology and electrotechical) sector and is geared to support the local ICTE industry in taking it to new heights.
It is aimed at attracting the interest of international investors to help the South African industry bridge the import/export divide by promoting South African capabilities abroad.
This is an effort by government and industry to boast South Africa's technological innovations and highlight key successes within the local market. The SAVANT programme is endorsed by the Minister of Trade and Industry (the dti).
Says, Sar'e Grobler: project manager: ICT & Electronics Division: Trade & Investment South Africa, "This project is significant in pointing out government's commitment to build a robust, growing and sustainable South African ICT and Electronics sector."
This commitment will directly support and contribute to the challenges of sustainable economic growth, social upliftment and empowerment.
One of the key companies that SAVANT is supporting is Altech company located in Mount Edgecombe, KwaZulu-Natal.
Says, Francois Stols Managing Director of UEC, "We are proud to be associated with the SAVANT project, as it is encouraging to see that government is making a concerted effort to support an industry that is fluctuating and that has many talents to boast about."
UEC has a heritage in defence electronics and successfully dominated a developing niche market in 1994 in collaboration with MultiChoice. It developed the first DVB compliant, MPEG-2 Integrated Receiver Decoder.
Added Stols, "This has been key to the growth and success of the company and with this new focus the company has never looked back."
Today, UEC is totally focussed on the design, development and manufacture of compressed digital television and data reception for satellite, terrestrial and cable television as well as for Internet service providers.
UEC is continuously developing and releasing new products and offers a full range of digital satellite, terrestrial and cable decoders.
One of their most recent innovations is the Integrated Receiver decoder, e.g. the DSD820 Multiview Digital Set-Top-Box is an eighth generation device that is both MPEG-2 and DVB compliant.
This is the industry's first solution that enables simultaneous viewing of two encrypted channels on two independent televisions using a single STB and smartcard MediaVerge Solutions provides software solutions and applications that allow users to make use of interactive TV, allowing Internet browsing, banking, e-mail access and so forth.
UEC's leadership position in this global business is further strengthened through strategic partnerships with international leaders in this technology.
Currently UEC produces more than 5000 decoders each day, which allows them the opportunity to these, export decoders all over the world and its major client is MultiChoice Africa.
UEC exports almost 30% of its products into the Middle East and has a dominant share of the Australian market and also sells into Europe. In 2003 it secured its first orders to supply the large cable TV market in the USA with STB's, initially through Bell South.
Concluded Grobler, "This is one of the many benefits that SAVANT is offering the ICTE industry in allowing them to showcase their products and leverage maximum value for their money through this project. South African companies in the ICTE sector can join SAVANT free of charge
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