Telkom, Sun Microsystems to offer networking services to SA

Telkom and Sun Microsystems SA have joined forces to offer world-class hosting, networking and communications services, alleviating the need for businesses to implement costly, complex solutions themselves.

The two organisations have set up a sophisticated new-age hosting infrastructure that enables businesses of all sizes to access high end data services at a fraction of the cost of doing it themselves.

"Not only can businesses access this power, they can also now present their customers with a host of services that they could not afford to offer in the past," says Stefano Mattiello, managing director of Sun Microsystems SA.

Telkom is offering customers an incubator service, allowing them to prototype new technologies, business models and services in a laboratory-type environment before using the applications in their businesses. Three 'proof-of-concept' hubs, also based on Sun systems, are already operational at Telkom.

"Service providers like Telkom, which already have large investments in networks and computer systems, are well placed to offer customers new-age Web services," says Mattiello. "Services such as shared hosting will bring the discipline and processing power of a high-end data centre within the price range of mid-sized companies."

Rikus Matthyser, executive: Telkom eBusiness Services, says that Telkom is stepping up its drive to introduce new products and services for business customers.

"We are aligning ourselves with technology companies that share our vision for network-based business applications and services," he says. "Sun has a high profile as a developer of the architectures and products that define modern networks and is able to contribute key technologies and methodologies to our planned initiatives."

Telkom is on track to receive SunTone certification, a rubber stamp from Sun that guarantees that Telkom's infrastructure and services meet its criteria for quality and reliability.