| Wed 26 Aug 2009, 16:57 | | ALT - Altech`s Kenya Data Networks Lays 1500kms Of Fibre Between Mombasa |
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ALT
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ALT - Altech`s Kenya Data Networks Lays 1500kms Of Fibre Between Mombasa
And Kampala
ALLIED TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1946/020415/06)
Share code: ALT
ISIN: ZAE000015251
("Altech")
Altech`s Kenya Data Networks lays 1500kms of fibre between Mombasa and Kampala
"Kenya Data Networks, rolls out a fibre optic cable from Mombasa to Kampala,
soon to reach Kigali and beyond"
Kenya Data Networks (KDN), an Altech subsidiary and the fastest growing ICT
company in East Africa, has laid an estimated 1500kms of fibre backbone from the
Kenyan city of Mombasa to Kampala in Uganda. The fibre optic network will afford
homes, businesses and Digital Villages the opportunity to tap into the
anticipated benefits of faster, cheaper and more efficient services, including
cable television, voice and data services.
Further plans include laying an additional 400 km of underground cable from
Kampala to Kigali, Rwanda, totaling 6000 km of cable for the project.
"Altech is proud to be associated with this project. East Africa is a region
with explosive growth prospects as far as technology and broadband provision are
concerned. The imminent landing of a number of undersea cables will provide the
bandwidth needed to create an East African broadband network. Broadband demand
in East Africa is expected to increase ten fold over the next 3 years. The
project will unlock land-locked countries, like Uganda and Rwanda, by connecting
them to the undersea cables via KDN`s terrestrial fibre," said Altech Chief
Executive Officer, Craig Venter.
KDN owns the largest fibre optic network in East Africa and dominates the field
of data carriers and infrastructure networks suppliers. KDN Managing Director,
Kai Wulff said that KDN was living up to its promise of being a one stop shop
for telecommunications solutions through provision of low cost bandwidth that
will guarantee affordable and reliable high speed broadband service not only in
the East Africa region but throughout Africa.
"The project will deliver better and more affordable telecommunications
advances, inline with those currently enjoyed by most developed countries``,
said Wulff. "From 2005, when we laid our first fibre optic cable in Nairobi,
our ambitions have grown exponentially. Soon, we will have laid cable
throughout East Africa, and from there, we have the entire African continent
in our sights." he added.
East Africa has to date, made use of the VSAT satellite for international
communication. "This means that information sent from Kenya to Uganda
effectively had to travel 72,000 km from Kenya to the satellite and then to
Uganda. KDN`s new terrestrial fibre network will shorten the route by 90%,
inherently resulting in cost savings to the consumer," said Wulff.
In August 2008, KDN became the first ICT company to construct a Ksh 7billion
(R700 million) termination point at the Kenyan coast in anticipation of East
Africa`s three international undersea cables. KDN`s fibre optic cable will
connect Kampala to the undersea cables that land in Mombasa and will also
provide the benefits to Uganda.
"KDN considers the undersea cables crucial to the region`s advancement and will
continue to invest heavily in infrastructure as part of its vision to connect
people with high quality and affordable services," said Wulff.
Altech has good experience in running the next generation network in Kenya
through its acquisition of KDN. This fibre network will span 4 countries by
September 2009: Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and the Eastern Democratic Republic of
Congo.
Altech has WiMax and related experience through WiMax roll-out in Kenya (KDN)
and Uganda (Infocom).
Altech also has international bandwidth capacity through its equity stake in
Teams (Kenyan undersea cable).
All this knowledge and experience gained through the businesses in East Africa,
is available for utilization in South Africa and applicable to the newly
acquired I-ECNS license.
Notes to Editor:
Kenya Data Networks
Kenya Data Networks (KDN) initiated services at the beginning of 2003 as a full
service, data communications carrier. Its mission is to build a world-class
telecommunications infrastructure in Kenya and East Africa. KDN has established
itself as the leader in the provision of commercial leased lines, constituting
75% of Kenya`s outbound traffic. KDN`s extensive operations cover all the major
cities and towns of Kenya (3 of which have a metropolitan Wi-Fi network) and are
soon to be expanded to cover other cities and towns in the East Africa region.
KDN currently has the largest WiMax network in Africa with over 190,000 square
kilometers covered. KDN has been offering turn-key solutions using the different
technologies in its bouquet namely Wi-Fi, WiMax and Fibre across East Africa.
www.kdn.co.ke
Allied Technologies
Altech is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and is an investment
holding company, involved in the telecommunications, multi-media and information
technology industries, which employs over 5000 employees in South Africa and
abroad.
As a leading South African multi-billion rand high-technology group, Altech is
involved in the design, development and convergence of telecommunications
equipment, multi-media systems and IT solutions. There is a strong focus on the
convergence of these technologies and Altech is now also entrenched in the arena
of secure technology solutions.
Altech has ongoing access to the latest technologies worldwide, while the
group`s own research and development programme actively encourages and promotes
internal technology.
www.altech.co.za
JSE code: ALT
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Altech:
Craig Venter: Chief Executive Officer
TEL: +27 (0)11 715-9004
FAX: +27 (0)11 715-9045
EMAIL: cventer@altech.co.za
OR
Wessie van der Westhuizen: Chief Strategic Officer
TEL: (011) 715-9043
FAX: (011) 715-9047
CELL: 082 8001818
EMAIL: wvdwesthuizen@altech.co.za
OR
Joe Makhafola: Group Executive, Corporate Affairs, Marketing,
Government Liaison & Regulatory Affairs
TEL: +27 (0) 11 715-9026
FAX: +27 (0)11 715-9047
CELL: +27 (0) 71 290 1735
EMAIL: jmakhafola@altech.co.za
26 August 2009
Sponsor: Investec Bank Limited
Date: 26/08/2009 16:57:02 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.
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