Seacom and Sentech have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to accelerate the growth of SMMEs in the local telecommunications sector and advance their contribution to the digital economy through targeted support.
The 12-month collaboration also recognises the vital role of SMMEs in driving economic growth, creating jobs, and shaping South Africa’s digital future.
Seacom and Sentech will join forces to strengthen the SMME ecosystem by providing mentorship, training, funding, and access to shared innovation platforms, thereby building digital inclusion.
Key focus areas include:
- SMME empowerment and inclusion – SMMEs will benefit from targeted enterprise development programmes, improved access to essential infrastructure, personalised mentorship, and public events that showcase and promote their innovative solutions.
- Infrastructure expansion – By merging Seacom’s extensive fibre infrastructure with Sentech’s broader service reach, SMMEs will have greater business opportunities in rural and underserved regions and creating more chances for market entry and growth.
- Skills development – SMMEs will gain hands-on training in advanced technologies such as fibre, cloud, and broadcasting, participate in practical internship exchanges, and access educational resources aimed at increasing digital literacy – particularly in townships.
- Content and cloud services – SMMEs and local content creators will have access to affordable hosting solutions, enhanced hybrid content delivery options, and targeted support in digital migration making it easier for them to offer new digital services.
- Public sector collaboration – SMMEs can participate in larger joint ICT projects, benefit from coordinated policy advocacy, and gain insights from research enabling them to better understand and leverage new technologies such as 5G, IoT, and AI.
“We are building a foundation for an inclusive and digital nation,” says Anton Jooste, MD for Digital Services (SA) at Seacom. “By combining our strengths, this partnership directly addresses SMME challenges and enables broader participation in South Africa’s digital economy, positioning SMMEs at the heart of national growth.”