Privatisation has become more of a reality in Africa with the handover of large world-leading companies to private enterprises. Telecommunications has served a critical role in shaping society and culture, as well as in shaping business and economics in growing countries worldwide. Companies also have to change regularly to adjust to changes in market conditions, also in southern Africa. Siemens Enterprise Communications has received a financial injection of US$ 550 million by Gores of the United States and Siemens of Germany that will also benefit Siemens and its business associates locally.
Says Raymond Padayachee: CEO of Siemens Enterprise Communications, Southern Africa: “The company has completed a repositioning and is now more than ever streamlined to support its several million customers around the world, including Namibia. This process of change and the exchange of knowledge, technology and various other skills as part of this agreement will create improved opportunities for enterprises of all sizes in Namibia.”
Over the last century, Siemens has undertaken projects, which have provided skills transfer, knowledge, technology and offered solutions to Namibia's fast expanding business community. Emphasis has been placed on the enterprise communication sector and Siemens in Namibia has always stood for technical achievements, innovation, customer focus, quality and reliability. The revolution in converged technologies is transforming all aspects of human activity related to communications and information. The world at large is moving towards intelligent computer-based environments that support the creation, sharing and distribution of information via unified communications and communications-enabled business processes.
During 2006, OmniTel Namibia approached Siemens Enterprise Communications in South Africa with a proposal to buy out the local Siemens organisation, thereby converting the existing organisation to a Namibia-based company. “Successful negotiations have resulted in a true partnership between both companies - Siemens Enterprise Communications will still continue to offer skills, knowledge and technology to Namibia's expanding business community,” says Padayachee.
OmniTel Namibia is 80% Namibian owned with the remainder 20% owned by Tactical Software Systems. TSS is based in South Africa and is a preferred service partner of Siemens Enterprise Communications in Southern Africa. TSS offers services linked to communication systems and related equipment. “This partnership will help OmniTel Namibia deliver tailored solutions to meet the diverse business objectives of Namibian enterprises,” assures Padayachee. According to Gunter Langmaak: Managing Director of OmniTel Namibia, Namibian stakeholders can be assured that customer service, market and product knowledge will be retained within the new company as it will be staffed entirely of those employees who were previously employed by Siemens Enterprise Communications. Padayachee concludes that Siemens Enterprise Communications is optimistic about the change and the new partnership: “Siemens Enterprise Communications remains completely upbeat and positive about the growth and development prospects in Namibia and is unquestionably committed to long-term engagement of the Siemens brand in the country.”
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