Digital FocusSep-Oct 2015 Merger with Telkom to give BCX capacity: CEO - Nedbank launches Market-Edge SA IP Traffic to grow six folds: CISCO
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Digital Focus
www.digitalfocus.co.za Sep-Oct 2015
Merger with
Telkom to give
BCX capacity: CEO
Isaac Mophatlane,
CEO of Business Connexion
Nedbank launches SA IP Traffic to grow
Market-Edge six folds: CISCO
Magazine for the ICT Thought Leader!
100% BLACK OWNED AND A LEvEL 2 CONTRIBUTOR
OUR ACHIEvEMENTS INCLUDE vARIOUS
AWARDS FOR OUR SERvICES AND SOLUTIONS OUR CUSTOMER RETENTION IS TESTAMENT
AND NUMEROUS vENDOR CERTIFICATIONS TO THE COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION OF
OUR GREATEST ASSET - OUR PEOPLE
OUR KEY CLIENTS ARE TOP JSE-LISTED
COMPANIES INCLUDING DEPARTMENTS
IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
WITH CUSTOM TAILORED SOLUTIONS AND
WORLD-CLASS TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES,
WE SET THE PACE IN THE INDUSTRY
Gijima is one of South Africa’s leading Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Services com-
panies, with black ownership of 100% and a Level 2 empowerment rating. Gijima offers application
services, infrastructure solution configuration and implementation and end-to-end managed outsource
services through our national footprint.
Employing more than 2,200 highly qualified, willing, tech-savvy and committed employees, in more
than 50 offices and service centres throughout southern Africa, Gijima remains well equipped to add
value to all its clients.
Our turnaround strategy, with new leadership in management and the appointment of reputable lead-
ers at Board level, is confirmation of Gijima’s commitment to structure the business for growth and to
continue to build on our excellent service delivery track record.
Tel: 012 675 5000 www.gijima.com Email: info@gijima.com
2 3
» 20
Contents
Telkom
feeling the
fibre war
September-October 2015
Editorial
6 Editor’s Note
Cover - CIO Profile
10 Merger with Telkom to give BCX
capacity: CEO
Broadcasting
14 Online radio to overtake traditional
broadcast?
»
ICT Security
17 Cybercrime on the rise in South Africa
14 Broadband
20 Telkom feeling the fibre war
Online radio to
overtake traditional CIO Profile
»
22 Technology for Better Settlement
broadcast?
Science and Technology
Systems and Applications 42 National Science Week stimulates
26 Building an international self funding young people’s interest
business 44 Women researchers honoured for
30 Top ten SAP implementations mistakes contributions to health, social issues
to avoid and aeronautical engineering
Mobility
46 Central University of Technology 50
takes lead in 3D printing for medical
34 Mobile Health Solutions enabling purposes
MEC not
efficient healthcare 48 Excellence thrives in previously deterred by
disadvantaged schools
Data Analytics 50 Celebrating NSW 2015 around the school ICT
36 Nedbank launches Market-Edge country theft
53 Companies urged to compete for
Networking global markets in technology
38 SA IP Traffic to grow six folds: CISCO
»
E-Learning
Cloud Computing 55 MEC not deterred by school ICT theft
40 Safe cloud computing starts with sound
information security practices
17 Tech and Lifestyle
56 Let the games begin
Cybercrime on the
rise in South Africa
4 5
Editor’s Note
Young entrepreneurs have taken full advantage of
what the world of ICT and development can
do for a growing business but companies in the public and pri-
Managing editor
Nkhume Kudzingana
vate sector are also joining the digital bandwagon to ensure the Editor
longevity of their businesses. Nkhume Kudzingana
Suzan Raphela
In this edition we look at online broadcasting in South Africa,
which is sprouting with new appeal and vying from the tradi- Contributors
tional approach to radio. We speak to the founder of Hashtag Eugene Morokolo
Alice Mpholo
Radio and co-founder of CliffCentral on the challenges and reg-
ulations around this new pillar in broadcasting.
Layout and Design
Suzan Raphela
The growth of internet users in South Africa is set to explode in
the next 4 years. According to the Cisco Visual Networking Index Editing and proof reading
2015 Predicts that South Africa will have the highest IP traffic Pfamoni Media
growth rate by 2019. The index (VNI) Forecast 2015 that by 2019,
there will be 27 million South African Internet users, up from 15 Sales and marketing
million in 2014. Palesa Tshabalala
Kagiso Setsetse
Nedbank announces a first-in-market data analytics tool, Ofentse Moroka
Nedbank Market Edge, enabling merchants and other business-
es to gain business intelligence and valuable insights into client Website design
behaviour through big data. Lefa Biya
We have seen more and more people move towards digital Publisher
media and for years rumours have been doing the rounds on the Pfamoni Media
imminent death of print media, with the fruition of social media. 249 Basden Avenue, Crystal Park One
Block O, Lyttelton Manor, Centurion,
Could traditional broadcast face the same state of plateau?
0157, Gauteng, South Africa
Tel: (+27) 086 099 4156
In our Tech & Lifestyle Web: www.saitnews.co.za
feature, we talk to gam-
ing blogger SuperDave Subscriptions and advertising
on his successful online subscriptions@pfamoni.co.za
blog; The Idiot’s Guide to
Gaming. He tells us about Letters to the editor
upcoming gaming devices editor@digitalfocus.co.za
and software in SA as well
as the gadgets he swears Repro and printing
by. Business Print –
318 Derdepoort Road,
The illusion of online Silverton, Pretoria, 0184
gaming being child’s play
is steadily falling away as Directors
South Africa plants its flag Nkhume Kudzingana (Managing)
in the industry with the Kagiso Setsetse (Operations)
emergence of developers Ofentse Moroka (Business
and manufactures. Development)
Copyright
All material published by Pfamoni Media (Pty) Ltd is
copyright and belongs to Pfamoni Media (Pty) Ltd, unless
otherwise indicated. No part of the material may be
quoted, photocopied, reproduced or stored electronically
without prior written permission.
Neither the magazine, the publisher or the editor can be
held legally liable in any way for damages of any kind
Nkhume Kudzingana, whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from any facts
Editor or information provided or omitted in these pages or
from any other statements made or withheld by this
publication. Opinions expressed are not necessarily
shared by Pfamoni Media (Pty) Ltd.
6 7
Africa roundup
KENYA
Farmers in Kenya are changing the at the farms in their absence.
agriculture landscape by utilising
modern technologies and mobile The EZ-Farm project by technology
platforms to manage and choose giant IBM is currently being used
their crops more effectively. on a trial basis in Kenya where it
africa will explore how sophisticated data
Dubbed ‘telephone farmers’, analytics can help farmers stay in
Four countries in Southern Africa have smallholders who live in the city touch and monitor what happens
collectively agreed to a pilot project for lower are increasingly using their mobile at their out of town farms. The
mobile charges when roaming. Namibia, devices to keep up with what goes on technology enables the farmer to which indicate whether they are
Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe agreed to the place sensors around the premises getting too much, too little or just
project that is expected to commence later this of his farm to monitor variables enough nutrition. The information
year. including water tank levels, the is then streamed using a wireless
amount of moisture in the soil and network to the IBM cloud and can
The Communications Regulatory Authority the irrigation equipment. be accessed by the farmer through
of Namibia (CRAN) said wholesale and retail an application on his mobile device
tariffs would be reduced annually according to The project can also use installed anywhere, anytime.
the glide path approved by ICT ministers from infrared cameras on the farm to
Southern Africa. measure rate of photosynthesis, Source: www.allafrica.com
The authority assured that mobile operators
would not be forced to go into reduced tariffs
agreements with operators in the countries
that are not in the pilot project, however, states
interested in taking part in the project were
welcome to do so.
Source: www.telecompaper.com
RWANDA
Mobile network, Tigo Rwanda has partnered with the Reach
for Change organisation to launch the Change-makers hub
in Muhima, Rwanda for young applicants and digital change
makers.
The hub is set to provide support and to applicants, who
apply to enter for the change-makers competition, aimed
at identifying and supporting social entrepreneurs with the
digital tools and technology to improve their communities.
The change-makers hub is also a great space for young
minds in the digital sector to interact and meet each other.
SOUTH AFRICA “We are reinforcing our strategic partnership in supporting
digital change-makers. We are happy to be the driving force
Internet company, Amazon recently expanded (EMEA) for Amazon Web Services, Steve Midgely. that provides solutions that impact lives and bridge the
its presence in South Africa with new offices in digital divide,” said Elisabeth Mwangi, director at Tigo People.
Johannesburg, which will serve Amazon Web Amazon provides cloud services to customers
Services clients including MTN and Standard Bank. including start-ups, enterprises and government. The competition awards professional coaching and
More than 200 engineers, network specialists and mentoring from Tigo to help develop innovation. It is aimed
“We have been an active contributor to the South account managers are expected to be hired as a at encouraging social entrepreneurs who are working
African technology community for over a decade and result of the expansion in both Cape Town and now towards improving communities by using digital tools and
by expanding our presence here, we intend to further Johannesburg. technology.
accelerate the growth of our cloud customers in
Africa,” said Head of Europe Middle East and Africa Source: www.fin24.com Source: www.biztechafrica.com
8 9
Cover - CEO Profile Cover - CEO Profile
Merger with
Telkom to
give BCX
capacity: CEO
The approved takeover of
Business Connexion
(BCX) by Telkom will give Business
Connexion more capacity and
market dominance. The deal has
been approved by the Competition
Tribunal, Takeover Regulations
Plan and the Johannesburg Stock
Exchange in spite of an objec-
tion by Dimension Data. In 2007
Telkom tried unsuccessfully to
buy Business Connexion. At that
time, there were fewer players
- Vodacom was still part of the
Telkom group and Cell C was not
operating.
»
“The Telkom /BCX deal will be very
beneficial to Telkom as it will allow
the operator to enhance its offer-
ings through integrated and end-
to-end solutions that leverage
BCX’s IT capacity and further,” says
Isaac Mophatlane, CEO of Business
Connexion.
10 11
Cover - CEO Profile Cover - CEO Profile
“
Though the deal is expected to Cyber nest which is their data IT and mobile operators over the what we do is to integrate those
create a bigger and more com- centre arm. So we will essentially South Africa’s information and years as competition heats up systems and data uncovering
petitive Telkom, Mophatlane, in run the data centers on behalf communication technology and profit margins drop. MTN where the real opportunities are.
an interview with Digital Focus of Telkom. Management stays in industry has been competitive has acquired hosting compa- Previously we took it for grant-
magazine, before the decision place as it is and key staff will with Dimension Data, Gijima, EOH ny Afrihost, Vodacom is buying It is a job done ed by looking at IT as a silo and
was made, said the executive be retained as we have a five and BCX all vying for market dom- (pending finalization) Neotel and that has changed. With the likes
makeup of the company will not year contract to remain within inance. However, over the years Telkom has acquired BCX. For very well and of Samsung, Cisco and ourselves,
change. “Business Connexion will the Telkom group,” he told Digital international consulting compa- Mophatlane it is crucial that as I wish the, we see a lot of growth there. Big
remain an independent subsidi- Focus. nies have also joined the race much as they are on top they data is all about the analytics of
ary within the Telkom group; we with BCX cautioning that the big are not relaxing: “It’s important metros, complex, that and not just the raw data. It’s
hospitals and
will take over staff from Telkom The data explosion in the indus-
try has seen companies try to
take advantage and for BCX it is
no different. “We see our data
centres as having the ability to
partner with technology part-
ners like Google and Microsoft, so
four can’t afford to rest on their
laurels. “Competition among the
big four IT companies in South
Africa is fierce, but one cannot
rule out other companies like Tata
Consulting and HCL Technologies
who are doing quite well. We see
that as much as there is com-
petition, we need to be aware
of new entrants to the market.
Look, there will be consolidation
because IT has become a com-
modity. We are also beginning to
see mobile operators move into
all relevant
authorities can
adopt that
“ about the data profiling of cus-
tomers. Now more than ever, big
data is very important.”
Over the past few years IT has
seen the emergence of big data,
cloud and analytics develop-
essentially we see ourselves as them competing with the likes of our area so it’s a very crowded ments that the public sector
a destination and a hub.” We T- Systems, another competitor space to be trading in and we are is still coy on. “We have been
recently launched a part- within our space. The dominance grateful to still be trading.” He leading with cloud. “The reality
nership with Microsoft is one part but the sad part is the adds that consolidation is taking about cloud is that it’s invisible.
in that space. Our data lack of black emerging compa- place. Customers are looking at People don’t care where the data
centres can handle nies to joining the competition,” saving costs and today IT is a is stored - all people need is the
multiple vendors and he says. commodity so the industry has ability to be able to access it. We
customers and on to follow suit. “Today’s custom- are seeing the likes of Microsoft
the back of “It should also be noted that ers make decisions because they and Amazon leading with cloud
the Telkom BCX has in the past continued understand IT and what it will and we will integrate and work
acquisi- to expand its reach across the bring to their businesses.” closely with those technology
tion it will African continent focussing on partners. Government, however,
give us a niche service providers rather As competition continues to has been a bit more cautious in
significant than commodity players. As an increase, South African compa- adopting cloud,” he notes.
dominance and example, BCX acquired companies nies like BCX continue to look to
more capacity. To including managed print services the rest of the continent to give The soon to be introduced
build a data cen- companies like Panabiz in Nigeria, them the competitive edge and Protection of Personal
tre you need cap- a point-of-sale entity called bolster revenue. “Africa is a very Information Act (PoPI) is expect-
ital, but there are Ultimate Software in Botswana exciting place and there are cer- ed to cause massive disruption
no regulations as well as Appzone, a technology tainly some hubs that are worth to cloud adoption in South Africa,
limiting that, so services provider based in noticing from a South African per- but Mophatlane believes it is still
you have the Nigeria. In light of this expansion spective. Nigeria is abuzz with too early to gauge its full impact.
likes of Standard drive undertaken by BCX, the home grown software develop- ware that is relevant to their own “The PoPI act is still a grey area
Bank owning their tie-up between Telkom and ment. We recently bought 30% challenges,” he notes. in terms of where it does and
own data centre. BCX will allow the former move in a financial service compa- doesn’t apply. The reality is that
Everyone is looking further into the IT services space ny called App Zone in Nigeria. As the world embraces the new information is available in differ-
at building their own and benefit from an additional Another interesting country is phenomenon called the Internet ent forms. It is going to be hard
and as the data explosion revenue stream through BCX, Kenya, which is definitely on the of Things, companies cannot to enforce it going forward. For
continues, data centres which had aimed to have 30% rise. South Africa is no longer the afford to be left behind as con- example people call you daily to
remain crucial.” of its revenue coming from the super power it used to be. The sumers expect their devises to be sell you insurance without you
African continent in the future,” culture of innovation in those able to talk to each other. This is giving them your contact details.
adds telecoms analyst, Ofentse countries is evident on a far big- an opportunity that BCX is ready There is still a lot of work to be
Mopedi. ger scale. There is also a big shift for. “The Internet of Things is a done. So how enforceable the act
in software development where big part of our 2020 vision. IT will be, only time will tell,” he con-
There has been a shift by major they specifically focus on soft- has a way of inventing itself - cludes.
12 13
Broadcasting Broadcasting
Online radio
to overtake
traditional
broadcast?
Online broadcasting
has seen the
emergence of several internet
According to Icasa’s
Communications Officer, Paseka
Maleka, the authority does not
radio stations including the more regulate online radio stations.
popular CliffCentral and Hashtag “Online radio stations are open to
Radio and is gaining popularity anyone that is interested, there
as the world of broadcasting and are no regulations online and we
media moves towards a more certainly have no say in what the
digital platform. broadcaster does or says.”
The World Wide Web has seen Another radio station that
the emergence of new print is rising to prominence on the
media with new websites gaining digital airwaves is HashTag Radio.
massive appeal to the contrary The station was founded by
traditional news, particularly entrepreneur Joubert Botha late
Gareth Cliff founder of Cliffcentral
newspapers. In the past two last year to create a platform
years, South African users for young entrepreneurs and
have taken to the appeal of small businesses to amplify their one still needs to acquire a licence this in turn attracts advertisers In South Africa, the majority of Interactive Radio:
live streaming music services content and interact with like- to become a broadcaster. and sponsors. Albeit just a year people still consume news, This allows you to open a specific
and more recently listening to minded individuals. old, Hashtag Radio boasts a music and content on their app on your computer or mobile
the radio live from their mobile “We pay a yearly licensing fee listenership that varies between radio, with digital broadcasting device and gives you some control
devices. Botha said the challenges they with SAMRO but our regulations 10 000 and 44 000 per month. appealing to a younger market. over the radio station in question.
weathered through when he are not as rigid as with traditional Rina Boomberg, co-founder However, keep in mind that it is
Early last year, TV and radio first started the station included radio broadcasters. Running an Botha said “We have two of CliffCentral said their main still essentially radio and thus
personality Gareth Cliff left building and fitting their own online radio station costs us just advertising options. Brands can challenge was educating people adheres to a schedule.
traditional radio broadcasting, studio and ensuring that the a over a millions Rand for the sponsor a complete two hour about online media, particularly
forging a new wave of digital sound quality, equipment year,” he added. show, including the naming the perception of the internet Podcasting:
media when he launched settings and studio climate were rights; that is in alignment with being expensive in South Africa. Podcasting is gaining popularity
CliffCentral. The controversial spot on. In the cyber space, attracting their strategy. The alternative is With that, digital broadcasting in mainstream media and offers
radio DJ and his team broke new an impressive audience is by far that they can request a 30 minute in itself comes with different episodes of certain shows.
ground reporting solely online. Regardless of the lack of the most important aspect in in-studio interview.” definitions. When you download them to a
regulations on the digital space, terms of growing the brand and media player, they become part
14 15
Broadcasting ICT Security
The mass appeal of online
content has been fuelling
speculations that traditional
print media will soon be
Cybercrime
on the rise in
extinct and while that has not
happened yet, media houses
cannot afford to ignore the
fact that newspaper and several
magazines are hanging on by
“ South Africa
lifelines. Could the future of radio
be equally as bleak?
The old-fashioned broadcasting
terrestrial is predominantly the
Being a content more popular means among South
Africans and while radio stations
hub, We aim to are becoming more digital and
create shows that perhaps automated, the average
The
listener still switches their radio exact cost of
are entertaining, on to hear their favourite DJ. Cybercrime in
informative, South Africa may be a cause of
of your broader music and audio When it comes to what we listen varying figures in the industry
collection and you can listen to inspiring and to, people love conversational but security experts agree that
them in any order.
Streaming Services:
Soundcloud has gradually become
the most used streaming service.
Streaming services include
different kinds of audio including
“
empowering while
delivering qualified
audiences to
advertisers
bits, familiar voices, new music
they won’t necessarily have time
to search for and the future of
radio could possibly include that,
with the added technology and
innovations of your favourite
apps such as Spotify, Audioboo
the problem is escalating at an
alarming rate. The recent reports
that a well-known dating site
with over 170 000 South Africans
on its database was hacked, sent
shivers around the banking and IT
security circles.
podcats. You can listen to specific and Soundcloud.
segments of your favourite The potential leak of personal
stations but not limited to music There will always be a need for information reported included
or any audio available online. and select which show they want radio in South Africa, there are banking details of the website’s
to listen to and when, with the several places that currently do members. According to Candice
Tune In: exception of what is already on not have access to the internet and Sutherland, a specialist from SHA
Tune In lets you search and listen air and that means that waiting with that, terrestrial broadcast says underwriter hackers are now
to thousands of radio stations, for time to pass before tuning radio still has a resounding targeting businesses and breach
over different genres of music, into your favourite shows is an heartbeat. We could see, in future their security checks. “The 2015
shows and interviews. It is a ancient practice. the overall market grow both Security Report released by Check
crossover between being a radio digitally and terrestrial. Point Security revealed that 106
search engine and an audio player. Boomberg agrees “Being a content unknown malware hit businesses
hub, We aim to create shows that The digital platform serves every hour. 83% of the 1300
Online radio stations are are entertaining, informative, to grow the overall listening businesses studied in this report
»
appealing to a broader audience inspiring and empowering while experience but not cannibalise it were infected with malware that
and opening up a world where delivering qualified audiences to and with the stage already set by allowed communication with the
the listener has control over what advertisers. With the imminent the few contenders, the attention cyber criminals who intended to
they want to listen to with built launch of the CliffCentral app, it has been shifted to the modern steal sensitive data during 2014”,
in streaming services on many of will be easier to listen live and listener to align with their habits she said. Candice Sutherland, a specialist from SHA
the stations. The digital platform to access podcasts to listen on and expectations to ensure the
also allows the user to browse demand.” availability of content.
16 17
ICT Security ICT Security
Basie van Solms, director of include disgruntled employees, because they find it easier to exploited this theory by hacking
the Centre for Cyber Security at negligence on the part of the exploit our trusting abilities real accounts on platforms like
the University of Johannesburg, organisation or individual, than to try and compromise our Snapchat so that when you saw
says that South Africa is lagging competitors and lastly, hackers. information using other means”, an endorsement for a scam
behind Africa when it comes to “Cybercrime is defined as any explains SABRIC CEO, Kalyani product or link, you’d trust it
adopting a stable cyber security criminal activity involving Pillay. because it seemed to come from
policy and that there is a lack of computers or computer networks someone you actually knew. The
overall cyber-security strategy that result in the unauthorized SABRIC urges bank customers to public also undervalued their data
and culture. The South African access to; interference with, be careful with what information in 2014, freely giving away email
government has been criticised fraud or forgery of data.” they place on social media addresses and login credentials
for not having a decisive policy platforms. “Criminals use all without checking that they were
and control over the growing Tightening social media available information about their on a legitimate website”, the
problem of cyber-crime, which security settings will avoid victim when they apply social reports found.
cost the country over R3.4 billion social engineering, a well- engineering tactics as it helps
in one year alone, he said. known method hackers use lend some credibility to their While scammers certainly evolved
to get credentials. The South communication. Once the victim’s their tactics and ventured onto
The total monetary loss as a result African Banking Risk Information trust is gained, it is more probable new platforms in 2014, a lot of
of cybercrime in SA is estimated Centre (SABRIC) has warned that the victim will disclose more their success continued to come
at over R5.8 billion, with global bank consumers to be wary information”, she adds. from people’s willingness to fall
statistics increasing at a similarly of social engineers who trick for predictable and easily avoided
alarming rate. “Shockingly, over bank customers into divulging SABRIC also emphasized the scams.
974–million records were lost personal information that they importance of tightening security
or stolen in 2014 globally and if normally would not disclose. features on social media sites as Social Media security
cybercrime were a nation it would to make it difficult for criminals Criminals will go wherever there
be the 27th biggest in terms of Social engineering is a form of to steal your information. “Whilst are people to be scammed. There
Gross Domestic Product”, Adds manipulation used by criminals not aimed at extracting personal are large numbers of people using
Sutherland. to trick their victims into giving information from their victims, SABRIC CEO, well-established social media
up confidential information like social engineering skills are also Kalyani platforms, and, as such, they
She says that the four most their confidential banking details. used in other scams to influence Pillay says play host to plenty of scams, the
common causes of cybercrime “Criminals use social engineering the victim to take actions that customers Symantec report warns. “The rise
should be in popularity of messaging and
careful with dating apps means scammers
Basie Van their personal have taken note and taken
Solms info. advantage, and a variety of
Director: scams are being seen on these
Cyber platforms”, the report found.
Security
university of benefit the fraudster. Internet meant attackers could access Media reports
Johannesburg dating scams are very prevalent the data stored in a web server’s A recent media report by Fin24
and a good example of how female memory during an encrypted quoting a study by IBM found out
victims are lured into paying large session. that cybercrime is costing the
sums of money to “help” their new South African industry a fortune
romantic interest only to discover According to the report in 2014, as data leaks hamper business
that they have been scammed”, criminals hijacked the power of growth, says a study that seeks
Pillay warns. “social proof”—the idea that we to quantify the losses. According
attribute more value to something to a study by tech firm IBM, one
Symantec report if it’s shared or approved by billion pieces of personal data
Global IT security company others. The classic example is were lost in SA in 2014, leading
Symantec released a report after of two restaurants: one with a to a cost of R432 million. But
Heartbleed virus hit the headlines big queue and the other empty. cyber thieves have escalated their
in April 2014, when it emerged “People would rather wait in activities in 2015, already costing
that vulnerability in the OpenSSL the queue because popularity local businesses R465, million or
cryptographic software library suggests quality. Criminals an increase of 7.67%.
18 19Broadband Broadband
Telkom feeling
financial year. This is significantly Telkom CEO, Sipho Maseko,
more than the company currently has announcing the company’s financial
in its fibre-to-the-business network. results, admitted that Telkom was
These connections will provide facing a daunting task in the FTTH
businesses across South Africa with space as players are. “It’s getting tough
the fibre war
access to a high-speed fiber optic out there, and as a company we need
network via an internet service to make the right response”, he said at
provider (ISP) of their choice. the time. Mopedi agrees, “Telkom, like
other dominant operators including
Vodacom and MTN has just entered
the FTTH market, therefore all these
operators are on equal footing in
terms of trying to establish traction
in this arena. However, Telkom’s ADSL
The ever increasing urge for
faster broadband in South
Africa has resulted in a hotly contested
are offered on a more nation-wide scale.
However, Mopedi says there is currently
offering will increasingly come under
pressure as more fiber services reach
more areas at much competitive
battle among traditional operators no clear leader at the moment as
prices. It must however be noted that
and new niche entrants. The appetite everyone is still laying the foundation.
at this stage, Telkom remains the
for faster internet over the past few “The fiber-to-the-home market is still
only operator offering LTE- Advanced
years has seen traditional operators like very much at its nascent stage here in SA,
services to the residential market,
Telkom, Vodacom and MTN given a run for with real first offerings having entered
this could also allow the operator to
their money and in some instances even this market at a larger scale late in
offset ADSL financial losses that the
beaten by new entrants like Vumatel and 2014. Nonetheless, progress in terms of
operator is likely to face as result of
Fibrehoods. increased market players, infrastructure
growing interest in fiber”, he argues.
investments and products development
The telecommunications company (capped and uncapped fiber bundles) has
There is an increase in demand for
announced the rollout of broadband with been rather impressive. Fiber services
fibre optic network connectivity
38 000 homes recently given access to are also likely to replace ADSL broadband
across South Africa, which is partly
fibre. They are expected to double the solutions in the medium to long term.
due to the country playing catch up
fibre roll out to 70 000 by the end of the When comparing both ADSL and Fiber
to other more developed markets
year and will have the capacity to connect consumer solutions, our (Africa Analysis)
around the world. According to
more than 150 000 homes by early next recent price analysis report show that
Reshaad Sha, Chief Strategy Officer
year. This is part of Telkom’s goal of ADSL is rather becoming expensive
at DFA, “Although there are several
providing access to fibre connection for as consumer fiber prices continue the
drivers leading to increased demand
one million homes. downward trend”, he says.
for connectivity, we have identified
that global cloud computing is a
The past 18 months has seen South Vumatel, Fibrehoods, Link Africa and
critical driver for the adoption of fibre
Africa’s affluent suburbs migrate from Dark Fibre Africa have been laying fibre
based connectivity. In order for cloud
slower ADSL connections to faster fibre in South Africa’s richest suburbs over
computing to deliver the benefits of
connection. Parkhurst, Craighall and the past year with more areas set to be
cost saving, business continuity, and
other leafy suburbs are already reaping announced. The cost of fibre to the home,
business agility, it requires a secure
the rewards of the fibre war. according to many providers, is around
and super-fast connection that only a
R700 per metre including trenching.
fibre network can provide.”
Despite the current fibre rush, Ofentse While this might seem like a lot, the
Mopedi telecom analysts at Africa advantages of fibre over a typical ADSL,
Telkom, has thus hinted to its
Analysis says the bubble is most likely is about 200 times faster experts says.
potential to become an open-access
to only burst at affluent place rather The fibre rush has also split to business
operator. The company is gearing to
than national currently. “Despite prices with companies needing faster internet
open copper access at 200 exchanges
drastically coming down in the FTTH than before.
on a trial basis to pave the way for a
space, my view is that fiber solutions
more open access approach
will only reach certain affluent areas (in DFA recently announced that it aims to
Gauteng, KZN and Cape Town) in the short establish 20,000 business connections Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko says Telkom is facing a
to medium term before these services by March 2016, the end of its current daunting task in the FTTH space
20 21CIO Profile CIO Profile
Subsidy System, the darling of
the department, says the man
Mandlenkosi Xaba the CIO at the who is tasked with ensuring that
Department of Human Settlement all IT system are in place. “It
(HSS) brings a lot of value within
the department. We have three
IT directorates; more especially
the information management
directorate where all the bibles
of the department sit, from house
application, data, highest needs,
houses built, and the relevant
data”.
Currently the department is
busy migrating over 1050 staff
from the novel platform to
Microsoft enterprise platform.
“We have realised that most
of our technologies within the
department do not interact very
well with the Novell platform
hence the migration. We have
moved the ministry midyear
2014 coming from a Microsoft
environment and they insisted on
everyone joining Microsoft”, he
says.
“The second project that we have
is that technology changes and
evolves and as a department we
cannot afford to be left behind.
With that in mind the department
is changing the IT infrastructure
live servers so that we are up to
date”.
For the department, the use of
ICT is crucial as it helps them
understand the important
aspects like geographical and
infrastructural position before
Technology for The Information Man- projects they are undertaking. deciding on a settlement. “One
agement Directorate part which is crucial is that our
is to the Department of Human Though it might not sound like systems are able to tell us where
Settlement (DHS) what band- the most innovative department to build houses, for instance, we
width is to an internet service in South Africa, the DHS is at the cannot just build houses in places
Better Settlement
provider. Mandlenkosi Xaba the centre of most of South Africa’s where the amenities like schools,
CIO at the department spoke to poor hopes. At its heart lies malls and police stations are far,
Digital Focus about what value IT one of the department’s most so that is some of the important
brings to the department and the prized possession, the Housing aspects of some of our IT systems.
22 23CIO Profile
“The information we extract from departments with the largest size He says like most government
the information management of data and as a result cannot departments it is not easy for
systems is able to give us a afford not to consider it. “We have them to go all cloud as there is
critical analysis of our progress, one of the biggest data collections just a lot at risk. “With that said
successes, challenges and in the South African government its not necessarily a pipe dream,
so forth. The housing subsidy and for us analyzing that data is the issue with it is security, how
system is a very critical aspect very crucial, we need to be one secure is it? Who has access to
of the department because all step ahead in terms of knowing, the information sitting on the
records of houses built, demand for an example, where the biggest cloud? What motives will the
records and progress reports, just demand in terms of housing will person who gets hold of it have?
to name a few, are being hosted come from”. And what best practices are out
there”. there regarding the use of cloud
With technology ever evolving technologies? As Government
With Big Data and Analytics organisation are also faced Information Technology officers
taking the worlds of ICT by storm, with the prospect of the new Council (GITOC), we have made
DHS says they are among the phenomenon of cloud computing. deliberations on it and the State
Information Technology Agency
(SITA) wants us to adopt cloud
but as a department we need to
get assurance first in terms of its
security”.
It’s the biggest problem in public
sector, you skill people and then
soon those people are gone, what
we can only do is to incentivize,
that’s all we can do, we can’t
compete with the private sector”.
As government tries to modernize
its aging infrastructure and legacy
systems, challenges associated
with service providers are
halting progress. Over the years
government has been trying
to implement the Integrated
Financial Management System
(IFMS) that has been riddled
with delays. The tender has been
cancelled at least twice as service
providers are at loggerheads over
the contract. This he says has
been one of the biggest problems
for government in IT. “It is a big
problem and the challenges are
always there. IFMS is a great
concept but by the time it’s here it
will be completely outdated. It will
not be talking to the requirement
of the government at the time but
only time will tell. It is unfortunate
but that’s how things are turning
out to be. We have wasted more
than 10 years already”, Xaba said.
24 25Systems and Applications Systems and Applications
Carve out a niche
1
A few years ago I realised that the South I surmised that the skills would not only
African market was starting to become sat- be scarce in South Africa, but also in many
urated with SAP consultants, so the high other countries. Hence, we found a niche for
rates they once commanded were starting ourselves, one where we had already spent
to sink. At the same time I saw that there time developing skills and partnerships we
was growing demand for Sage ERP X3 skills can take into the international market.
- a product aimed at mid-range companies
that want an affordable and flexible ERP
suite.
2 3
Get the culture right
People are the key to success in nearly any
business, and especially in consulting. You
need to think carefully about what skills and
competencies you’ll need to succeed, and
Johan Botes Group even more importantly about the business
CEO Consilia culture you’d like to drive. For Consilia, we
recruit entrepreneurial people at a young age
The technology is
and embed them into our business.
available, so use it
In the past few years, high-speed
Aside from management, most of our employees are graduates
broadband has become perva-
aged under 27. We made a conscious decision to recruit people
sive, cloud computing has given
who are adaptable, self-motivated, and quick to learn because
Building an international
us a great deal of flexibility into
we need to be able to work overseas independently. We value
how we buy and use ICT services,
business acumen and energy as much as experience and qual-
and collaboration tools such as
ifications because these qualities can’t necessarily be trained
Lync have matured. Today, it’s
self funding business
into someone who doesn’t have them.
easier than ever to manage a
business from a briefcase if you
have a good notebook, a modern
smartphone, and the right ser-
vice provider in the background
helping to keep your infrastruc-
Founded in 2012,
Consilia is an independent ICT
Over the past three years, we grew
our organisation into a healthy
South African business, before
years ago, but it was only around
four years ago that the condi-
tions were really right to launch.
ture running.
We run off Internet Solutions’
consulting firm that carries no spreading our wings with our off- Suddenly, we saw the skills, mar- global backbone, making it rel-
»
debt and which has been largely shore expansion plan. Today, we kets and technology we needed to atively simple and affordable to
self-funded since it was estab- have practices in the UK, Middle start converge. set up a new branch anywhere
lished. Group CEO Johan Botes East and Australia, with plans to in the world. With very little fuss,
tells us how his company has expand to the US next year. Here are some lessons we’ve we can plug new employees and
grown into an international oper- learnt from globalizing our busi- clients into this backbone with-
ation over the past year. I first started developing the idea ness. out needing to make huge invest-
for this business seven or eight ments in technology.
26 27Systems and Applications
4
Support the team
Hiring self-starters doesn’t
mean leaving them completely
to their own devices - in a global
working environment you need
to provide structures for training,
mentoring, performance
management, and incentivizing
staff. And if someone is
struggling, they need access
to help and support. We don’t
hesitate to bring someone home
for a while if they’re struggling
overseas, for example.
5Define your markets
carefully
Exporting skills can be a com-
plex and risky business. That’s
why it’s important to do a careful
due diligence on every potential
new market, carefully looking at
market demand and needs, the
cultural fit with your business,
and the practical barriers such
as regulatory requirements and
language. For example, we’re
focusing mostly on English-
speaking countries for now, even
though we recognize that there
are some great opportunities in
South America and Asia.
In conclusion, we believe that
success is about product, people
and infrastructure. Get the mix
right, and you can today build an
international business without
needing to make a huge capital
outlay.
28 29Systems and Applications Systems and Applications
Top ten SAP
#2 Stakeholder involvement
SAP is often viewed as a Too often,
technology solution, and is
consequently ignored throughout companies
implementations
the company until Go Live. The
users then have complaints
make
that what is being delivered decisions on
is not what they expected. An
investment in SAP is significant
implementation
mistakes to avoid
and highly transformative for the partners based
business, both from a business
process perspective and in terms
on the lowest
of accessing information. price.
The company needs all
stakeholders to be accepting
Implementing
effective Enterprise Resource Planning
of the new solution, and must
intimately be involved in making
the implementation a success.
(ERP) systems, such as SAP is Importantly, this buy-in must
fundamental to any company’s efficient start at the top.
operation and underpins its growth
#3 The right partner
strategy. If not delivered effectively, The Board, the CEO, and the
Too often, companies make This is why you need to choose
these implementations can be very executive management team
decisions on implementation an implementation partner based
expensive, take a long time, and can must drive this as a business
partners based on the lowest on a long-term, mutually bene-
ultimately cost your business enormous initiative, and the transformation
price. While price plays a role, ficial business relationship. Your
amounts of money in lost revenues that process must be embraced by
the cost of the implementation partner must walk the road with
dwarf those implementation costs. everyone in the company.
is generally dwarfed by the you, and needs to be innovative,
potential revenue losses that a capable of tracking SAP’s strat-
We often tell customers of the pitfalls
bad implementation can result in. egy closely, and be prepared to
of these implementations, and just as
invest with you along the way.
often they disregard these warnings
and press ahead, making the mistakes
that lead to higher costs and inefficien-
cies than they were attempting to avoid. #1 Technology choice
To help your business avoid making Companies deciding to implement an ERP solution based on
these mistakes, we’ve listed our top 10 an ROI calculation will be disappointed, because it is nearly
mistakes, complete with solutions so impossible to measure, and leads to frustration when intended
that when you implement SAP, you are targets aren’t achieved. The decision to implement a technolo-
able to go from strength to strength. gy platform must be made based on strategic criteria.
You need to choose a technology platform: #4 Hurry up and wait
– Whose long-term strategy matches the company’s business All too often, companies take a long time to evaluate the tech-
strategy; nology and their partner, only to then rush headlong into the
– That is proven; implementation to make up for ‘time lost’.
»
– That has rich and extensive functionality; and
– That is developed by a company that is sustainable and This is a classic ‘hurry up and wait’ error, where comprehen-
successful. sive planning has been disregarded once the decision has been
Over the past 25 years, SAP has reinvented itself many times made. Frequently, we find that little to no time has been taken
and has kept at the forefront of ever-changing technologies and to plan the implementation in every detail, mobilise the best
business needs, thus proving that it is a good, strategic, long- business resources to be involved in the implementation, and
term investment. ensure that the business understands what is coming.
30 31Systems and Applications Systems and Applications
I believe companies should… #6 Replicating a bad thing #7 Bad data #9 Inadequate training
– Undertake a roadshow led by the A common mistake that is made If the emergence of Big Data has The fact is that the number of knowledgeable project team members
executive team to communicate by companies is to replicate what taught us anything, it is the value and ‘super users’ are dwarfed by the number of SAP users that must be
reasons for the implementation, they have in their current lega- of accuracy. SAP is data hungry trained prior to Go Live. The sheer volume of users in need of system
involvement of people as project cy systems in SAP. Why is this and cannot be operated without training is problematic. This is only compounded by the fact that when
resources, and eventually as users; so bad? Simply, the integrated accurate data. Bad data causes training happens, it is both rushed and transaction based. This results
– workshop key business metrics nature of SAP and the way SAP is transaction problems, and ulti- in poorly trained users who have low confidence in their abilities.
with the executive team so that the designed along business process mately can bring your company’s
project team can build the solution lines is very different to the way SAP environment to a standstill. You need to have a well thought out, comprehensive training strategy
with those metrics in mind; and in which legacy systems work. As a result, data cleansing and that is effectively delivered well before Go Live, and only after several
– plan, plan, plan. data migration is a critical aspect iterations have been done.
Replication of business processes of any implementation.
#5 Too much too soon and reporting requirements is
Lengthy, ‘Big Bang’ projects that costly and a waste, so in the long- Often companies don’t put
look to deploy enormous func- term you need to change this enough energy and focus into this
tionality can be destructive to approach and dispose of these area, which is one of the main
your business. Whilst SAP has a custom solutions. reasons for Go Live delays.
huge amount of functionality that
can be deployed, implementing When designing your solution, use The solution? Start this process #10 Unstable Support
too much of this functionality at whatever best practice processes at the beginning of the project, If you have implemented SAP, it is
once can cause long lasting prob- SAP provides in its standard prod- make sure that the necessary imperative that you have a long-
lems. uct, and be open-minded about data mapping is done early, and term strategy for its support. Too
how you access information and ensure that the data from legacy many companies forget about
You need to get use from your SAP minimize your enhancements. systems is holistic and hygienic. their SAP investment after Go Live.
software as soon as possible. The At best, they undertake basic user
best way forward is to put the support. This causes the system
basics in first, stabilize the solu- to degenerate and the company
tion, then grow the functionality doesn’t receive the expected
in a structured way over time. benefits.
To combat this, your company
needs to continue with application
lifecycle management and
In summary ensure system improvement
When it comes to implementing and optimization is continuously
SAP, or any other ERP system, it managed.
is crucial that these pitfalls are
avoided. They cost time, money,
and lead to greater inefficien-
cies throughout the company. It
also leaves a bitter taste in your
#8 Lack of process education
mouth whenever you consider
Depending on how big a jump you It therefore should be a priority
implementing any new system,
make from your legacy systems for you to undertake process
whereas your experience should
to SAP, you need to assess the education before business users
be one that proves over and over
degree of education required in become involved in blueprinting a
again its benefits and advantag-
the business. While this may sur- solution. Not only are these users
es. That is the mark of a success-
prise you, it is common for many able to play a positive role from
fully implemented project.
users to not understand the busi- the start, but are also empowered
ness terms, processes, as well as to authoritatively fulfill their
the upstream and downstream project roles.
effects of transaction steps used By Paolo Masselli – Chief
in SAP. Operating Officer at Britehouse
32 33Mobility Mobility
Mobile Health
Solutions
enabling efficient
healthcare
The biggest technology
trend in Africa, and
the one that is making the biggest
the responsibility of educating
consumers and nurturing
widespread adoption is integral.
potentially an easier way to deliver
mobile technology’s benefits to
patients without having to tackle
Allowing healthcare field agents to
consult with patients, collect the
necessary information and relay
medical supply chain are avoided
and citizens are guaranteed of
having access to the medication
health services, but can by no
means function as a replacement
for basic health infrastructure.
impact on the everyday lives of This aids in improving the citizens’ infrastructural transformation at it back to specialists to receive they require. mHealth disruption, including the
people is the rise of smartphones healthcare experience without this stage. treatment recommendations. ability of health professionals
and feature phones. needing their participation. Taking into account that South With the use of enterprise mHeath to monitor patients, whenever,
These initiatives improve access Africa has one of the lowest life apps, health organizations wherever, requires funding to
Africa has seen the fastest uptake To adopt mHealth solutions, the to medical supplies, track expectancies in the world, mobile and businesses can play a role provide the right automated,
of mobile devices in the world and facilitation of Electronic Medical immunizations, and allow remote technology could change that in creating an open dialogue digital infrastructure to hospitals.
mobile subscribers are set to hit Records (EMR) systems need diagnostics potential to transform and if leveraged correctly it can between the government and the This is a long and costly process,
half a billion in the next five years, to be deployed. These systems the entire regional healthcare improve the quality of life and life people – particularly in times of however forerunners in the Middle
according to the GSMA. enable health organizations to landscape, resulting in higher expectance of its citizens. crisis. A great example of this is East have proved that this can be
pull, analyze and share patient referrals, faster diagnoses and an IBM driven mobile initiative in done, at least in small stages.
This statistic supports the fact medical histories and ultimately a dramatically improved patient In Zambia, the government Sierra Leone that is enabling the
that mobile technology is and will integrate these records into experience. partnered with IBM to deploy a citizens to report Ebola-related Until the infrastructure challenges
continue to be the most powerful mobile health apps. mobile programme aimed at issues and concerns via SMS or can be overcome, hospitals and
communications platform in Telehealth apps enable citizens in better managing the inventory voice calls, creating a new channel other health entities should look to
Africa. Driven by cheaper mobile Currently, most of Africa’s remote areas to access specialized and delivery of 200 life-saving to communicate their experiences build-in enterprise mHealth apps
devices and continued innovation healthcare ecosystem encourages health care professionals in real prescription drugs. Staff from directly to the government. to begin transforming their back-
in the mobile space, mobile citizens to select a variety of time. With the assistance of mobile three local health facilities are end processes and start taking
technology has the power to and doctors and specialists instead diagnostics, health professionals now using mobile devices with These apps help connect the dots quality healthcare solutions from
will transform the delivery of of one primary care physician. are able to send test results barcode scanners to record stock in the event of a crisis, they act the few to the many.
healthcare service into Africa. This makes the consolidation and from the field and outlying areas and generate real-time views of as an insurance policy against
ownership of medical information and have access to specialized supplies. For a country that sees pandemics such as last year’s
The obstacles we face in Africa, a challenging situation in this healthcare professionals all over around 100,000 deaths each year Ebola outbreak. As much as these
however, are the infrastructural environment as information is the world. This reduces the need due to preventable and treatable apps improve agility, efficiency
challenges that are hindering the not from one source, but from for patients to travel hundreds diseases, the benefits of the and regional coverage, these
adoption of consumer facing apps multiple sources. of kilometers to visit a GP or a mobile-based system are self- systems need to be installed and
and limiting integration with local specialist. evident. employees trained up before they
health systems. There is however Inward facing enterprise mHealth are effective.
a way to circumvent these. apps, which improve the logistical Enterprise mHealth apps have the The solution allows workers to
and operational efficiency capability to enable a “distributed” transfer supplies and identify Enterprise mHealth apps offer a By Ahmed Simjee, Executive
By implementing apps internally, of healthcare solutions, are model of healthcare provision. stock trends. As a result gaps in the way around the lack of physical Smarter Planet, IBM, South Africa
34 35You can also read
