Sisonke Communications, a company established with Siphumelele Investments, Mayibuye, Gijima and Philips Business Communications (PBC), has won part of Telkom`s CPE (customer premises equipment) tender.
According to this non-committal agreement, Sisonke, in which PBC has a 25 percent stake, will supply PABX equipment to Telkom with PBC providing all technical backup.
Derrick Laas, general manager - operations at Philips Business Communications says that winning the tender proves that PBC`s technology has surpassed other market offerings, but believes its support capabilities persuaded Telkom to opt for this route, rather than any other large PABX supplier in South Africa.
The final agreement will be signed early January next year and product roll-out is expected to commence in the first half of 1999.
"The deal aims to expand customer use of Telkom`s infrastructure. After extensive research, Telkom has divided the PABX market as they see it, and PBC has responded to the new-found requirement to supply equipment across the high-end," says Laas.
According to the supply agreement, Telkom will hold stock, install and maintain PABXs themselves. A three-way award was issued for the tender according to which Sisonke will address the 130 to 500-port market with the Philips iS1000, and up to 1000 port systems with the iS3000.
The low-end, zero to 12-port systems will be supplied by TEMSA (telephone equipment manufacturers of South Africa), and the 40 to 130-port sector will have Plessey as the first supplier and, second, TEMSA with the IBS 32.
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