Expanding integrated network services into Africa

Robert Sussman

Realtime Africa is an established provider of such services and has offices in Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and affiliates in other key regions.

To date, as a result of the partnership, Integr8 IT has entered into several service level agreements with business across Botswana and Zambia. The company is presently looking to break into the Zimbabwe ICT and telecommunications market.

“Over the last three years we have become very focused on providing integrated network services. This focus started in Zambia and we have now implemented nationwide ISP through which we provide e-mail, Internet, VPN, firewall/security, anti-virus, monitoring and other value added services,” explains Ron Hyslop, Realtime Africa. “This has been established in Zimbabwe and we do have rollout plans for our other offices.”

Robert Sussman, joint MD at Integr8 IT, is confident about the the alliance, saying, “If one looks at the scope of services being provided by Realtime Africa, there is immediate synergy between the company and Integr8 IT in addressing core market requirements. This partnership is being established at a time when there is a definite push towards integrated network services from companies, service providers and organizations within developing countries. The main reason is because of the cost reduction associated with a centralized, integrated environment.”

The short term objective, says Sussman, is to generate awareness of the alliance and advantages such as connectivity to the Integr8 IT nerve centre, access to managed services, and proactive technical support and inhouse skills base of both companies.

“The alliance will target existing and potential clients, and then implement and adapt the strategy as we go along,” Sussman continues.