Global telecoms company, Aviat Networks, and local ICT and telecoms company, Ubuntu Technologies, have announced a joint venture that they expect to shake up the telecommunications sector in South Africa.
Aviat-Ubuntu Telecommunications brings together Ubuntu’s 17 years of local experience and Aviat’s 50 years technological edge as a worldwide provider of microwave network solutions. The new entity will provide best-of-breed
products and a full range of service options to both public and private telecommunications operators.
The two companies have a combined revenue of more than R6-billion.The venture came about when NASDAQ-listed Aviat Networks set out to find a BEE partner that would enable it to expand its reach into the South African market,
where it hopes to create a new class of telecommunications company that combines both local and international expertise.
Ubuntu brings knowledge of local needs from its experience in providing wireless, networking, data centre and client services and solutions primarily to the public sector.
The company assists government departments, state-owned entities and selected corporate clients to meet their organisational objectives by designing, implementing, managing and supporting ICT infrastructure services and
solutions.
Aviat has a strong track record in the telecommunications sector and, in a survey conducted by California-based Infonetics Research, was recognised as the top microwave specialist by network providers around the world.
The company was rated number one for technology innovation, security, product reliability, price-to-performance ratio, total cost of ownership (TCO), solution breadth, service, support, management software and financial stability.
These rankings were based on a significant sample of 25 telecom operators representing 37% of worldwide capital expenditure and revenue in 2012.
“Aviat-Ubuntu intends to be a force to be reckoned with in the telecommunications sector,” says Ubuntu CEO, Wandile Bereng. “By joining forces, our two companies will be able to compete aggressively in the telecommunication
sector, and will be able to expand our client base significantly.”
The new company will be headed up by CEO Allen Tshabangu, who has over 20 years’ of business experience, working for companies such as the Standard Bank Group, M-NET and Norwich Investments. He has also been involved
in some notable mergers and acquisitions’, including the acquisitions of Sandton City, the V&A Waterfront and Canal Walk, is a non-executive director of Escalator Capital, and a director and board member of Ubuntu Technologies.
“Aviat-Ubuntu aims to support the development of the country’s economic potential by leveraging off the expertise of the two partners,” says Tshabangu.
“The new company is uniquely positioned to provide end-to-end solutions, and also to compete for market share based on improved efficiencies that will accrue from economies of scale. The company is poised to take a lead in
providing leading telecommunications solutions.
“We’re the new players on the telecommunications block, and we aim to make our presence felt in a way that will benefit all operators and the South African people as a whole.”