NAIROBI, Jul. 30, 2010 (Xinhua News Agency) -- A global telecommunications network firm, Cisco announced on Friday that the Wananchi Group has signed a contract for the purchase of Cisco network technology solutions and services in East Africa.
The agreement is supported by Cisco Capital, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) , specializing in providing effective financing solutions and a deep understanding of Cisco's products, services and customer business requirements.
The contract will enable the Wananchi Group, Africa's pioneering provider of triple-play (broadband, multi-channel cable television and voice telephony) and VSAT (broadband data and internet) services, to roll-out its new services in 9 countries in the eastern African region -- Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, Ethiopia, Sudan and Zambia. "This agreement with Wananchi is significant for Cisco's business in Africa because it demonstrates our strong business partnership and consultancy capabilities beyond just being an end- to end network solutions technology provider and also shows how committed we are to this region and our customers," Paul Mountford, President for Cisco's Emerging Markets told journalists in Nairobi.
"Wananchi Group has a very ambitious plan to take Triple Play services and technology to hitherto experienced standards globally and we are glad that Cisco will be an integral part of this process."
The deal will enable the Wananchi Group to deploy Cisco's integrated end-to-end network technology solutions, encompassing Cisco's Borderless Networks, Collaboration as well as Data Center Virtualization solutions and Multimedia Set Top Boxes, as their customer base expands and technology advances.
Speaking during the teleconference announcement of the deal, Mark Schneider, Wananchi Group chairman, said that the entertainment market for both home and corporate customers in Africa, as a whole, continues to be reshaped in light of technological advancements and new industry partnerships. "The Wananchi Group's key objective is to expand our portfolio, enhance our commercial proposition, revenues and reputation," Schneider said. "Cisco will help us to continuously deliver the necessary technology enhancements to our infrastructure to service our ever growing customer needs and remain at the forefront of delivering new and innovative services to our customers."
This agreement is significant for Cisco's business in Africa as it demonstrates the strong business partnership and consultancy capabilities beyond just being an end-to end network solutions technology provider. "This is becoming increasingly important for our customers in Africa where we are witnessing major developments in the information, communications and technology (ICT) landscape," said Mountford.
The agreement represents an important milestone in Cisco's Africa investment strategy and goal to deliver advanced communication and collaboration services throughout the sub- Saharan African region.
The Wananchi Group is one of the first companies in the region to utilize the additional innovative resources that Cisco has to offer beyond its products and standard maintenance services.
