James Wekesa speaks at Zimbabwe’s Broadband Forum 2013

James Wekesa, WIOCC CCO

Today, 10th May 2013, James Wekesa – WIOCC’s CCO and Martin Mutiiria – Director, Africa Sales will represent WIOCC at Zimbabwe’s first Broadband Forum being held in Sango Conference Centre, Cresta Lodge in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Mr. Wekesa will be among the six speakers tackling a variety of internet-related topics at the event. He will offer his expertise during his speaking slot titled ‘Opportunities availed by increased bandwidth capacity on the continent’ between 11:15 and 11:45am.

During his presentation session, James will review the commercial opportunities created by increased bandwidth capacity on the African continent and in Zimbabwe.

This first Broadband Forum aims to unlock the value locally in mass uptake of broadband internet access, providing a platform to unbox opportunities, track progress, zero in on the challenges and explore solutions on all broadband issues. It will be a day of presentation, discussion and networking with local and regional decision makers in the broadband industry.

To reach James or Martin at the Broadband Forum, please email them at james.wekesa@wiocc.net or martin.mutiiria@wiocc.net.

WIOCC at ITW 2013

WIOCC will be present at the International Telecoms Week (ITW ’13) being held in the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Chicago, USA from 13th – 15th May, 2013.

Chris Wood – CEO, Ryan Sher – COO, Mike Last – Director, Marketing and International Business Development and Winnie Karisa – Marketing will represent WIOCC at the event.

Chris Wood will be participating in a panel discussion on Tuesday 14th May, 2013 at East Tower, Gold Level, Columbus CD conference room. Mr. Wood will offer his expertise and comments within the spotlight on Africa panel session titled ‘Driving data demand in Africa’. Some of the topics to be discussed on the panel include:
• Tracking the impact of subsea cable connectivity on nascent markets
- identifying markets with the largest data needs and growth projections
• Determining terrestrial infrastructure needs for quality, redundant and reliable services
- is there sufficient deployment of additional terrestrial infrastructure
- tracking IP growth vs. terrestrial network growth across the continent
- evaluating the opportunity represented by large markets like Libya and Ethiopia if liberalized
• Motivating in-region content development to create data demand
- how can service providers promote content creation and distribution to drive demand across their networks?
- when will Africa live up to its bandwidth promise?
• Driving mobile internet uptake and adoption
- cheaper handsets = more eyeballs?
- LTE timelines and viability
- which content and applicants will drive the proliferation of bandwidth?
• Establishing a roadmap to provoke the explosion

To arrange a meeting with the WIOCC team please contact Winnie Karisa at winnie.karisa@wiocc.net or info@wiocc.net.

WIOCC’s Ryan Sher: one of the 40 most influential under-40 year olds in global telecommunications

Ryan Sher, WIOCC COO

For the third consecutive year, Ryan Sher, Chief Operating Officer at Africa’s carriers’ carrier WIOCC, has been acclaimed1 as one of the 40 most influential people under the age of 40 in the global telecommunications industry.

Ryan has been a key force in the development and commercialisation of WIOCC’s unique international fibre-optic network, which won the Best Pan-African Initiative Award at AfricaCom 2012 and seamlessly links 50,000km of African terrestrial fibre with multiple international submarine cables.

In his citation, Ryan was recognised for ‘his drive, energy and business skills, which have been vital in transforming WIOCC – after less than five years trading – into Africa’s carriers’ carrier. WIOCC leads the way in delivering end-to-end-managed wholesale connectivity to Africa and offers carriers diversity-rich, high-speed international connectivity to and from over 400 locations in 30 African countries.’

Ryan’s achievements include implementing the first truly seamless, diversity-rich, high-speed network between Africa and Europe – linking WIOCC’s strategic investments in EASSy, EIG and WACS – and managing the interconnection of WIOCC shareholder and partner networks to create the largest (over 50,000km) terrestrial fibre footprint in Africa.

WIOCC’s European cable repaired

Repairs to the submarine cable delivering most of WIOCC’s connectivity to Europe were completed on Wednesday April 17th and WIOCC customer traffic is currently being migrated back to its original routing.

During the outage, Africa’s carriers’ carrier WIOCC was able to provide restoration services to all customers requiring them.

“I am delighted that our cable has been repaired on schedule, enabling us to get customers’ services back to normal as early as possible” said Chris Wood, WIOCC’s CEO.

“I apologise to customers for the impact of these multiple cable cuts in the Mediterranean Sea, which have affected telcos and ISPs worldwide over the last month. WIOCC’s team has made a monumental effort over a sustained period of time, with our Service Delivery and Technical Support teams working 24×7 for almost two weeks to ensure that WIOCC’s customers were restored in the fastest possible time.”

WIOCC successes at Africa Leadership Awards 2012

Both WIOCC and its CEO have been successful at the recent 2^nd Africa Leadership Awards. These awards, which are “all about recognizing Super Achievers, Future Business Leaders and the greatest brands in various sectors”, were announced on December 12^th 2012 in Mauritius.

Chris Wood was selected jointly as “African CEO of the Year”. The award recognises that he has been integral to the successful establishment of WIOCC and its evolution into its current form. He is credited with spearheading WIOCC’s evolution into a leading player in Africa’s wholesale bandwidth markets and supplier of end-to-end managed capacity into and out of the continent. Chris’s vision for improving the affordability, reach and diversity of Africa’s connections to the world has seen WIOCC extend high-quality connectivity inland from the coast into many land-locked countries. The award also acknowledges that his energy, leadership and determination continue to be instrumental in securing and improving Africa’s connectivity to the world.

WIOCC was also awarded the “Industry Leadership award” for its African connectivity, based on its end-to-end managed service offerings over an unrivalled, diversity-rich, high-capacity, connectivity network, which seamlessly incorporates more than 50,000km of terrestrial fibre in Africa and 40,000km of submarine fibre-optic connectivity.

These awards bring to an end a very successful year of recognition for WIOCC, complementing the recent Africa Com 2012 award for “Best Pan-African Initiative” and the Global Telecoms Business “Power100” and “40 Under 40” placings achieved by Chris and Ryan Sher.

WIOCC events in September

This month, WIOCC will be attending both Submarine Networks World Singapore and Capacity Africa.

Between 11th and 13th September, Chris Wood will be representing WIOCC at the Submarine Networks World Singapore event at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. He will be available for meetings throughout the event at WIOCC’s exhibition table (#13), and will be participating in an expert panel session entitled “Upgrade or build: How do you justify cable system investments?” on September 12th.

WIOCC are also Gold Sponsors of Capacity Africa – the  meeting place for carriers active in African wholesale markets.

This event will take place on 13th – 14th September at the Hyatt Regency in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. As well as sponsoring a cocktail event on the first evening, James Wekesa (WIOCC’s CCO) will participate in two panel discussions, entitled “Southern African Coastal & Landlocked Countries” on the first day and ”Data and Content Growth in Africa” on the second day. James, Marcel Bhatti (Sales Manager, South Africa) and our event team will be available at the WIOCC booth (#6) throughout the event.

To arrange meetings with WIOCC’s team at either event, please contact us at info@wiocc.net.

WIOCC improves international connectivity for Lesotho

Businesses, institutions and consumers in Lesotho are set to experience faster, reliable and significantly more affordable internet connectivity as Africa’s carriers’ carrier WIOCC brings additional broadband capacity into Lesotho.

Utilising its extensive terrestrial and submarine fibre-optic cable network, WIOCC is delivering lower-cost internet connectivity to Lesotho, bringing benefits to consumers and businesses in this mountainous African kingdom. Its arrival has already enabled a reduction in pricing of internet services by up to 67 per cent. This is supporting the Lesotho Government’s 8th Millennium Goal to make the benefits of new technologies available to its citizens and organisations, and to help businesses compete in the international arena.

Educational institutions, such as the National University of Lesotho, are already benefitting – with Basotho students now able to access essential web-based resources that were previously unavailable. For consumers, mobile internet services are being made more affordable to a wider section of the population through significantly reduced charges.

Chris Wood, WIOCC CEO

“Until recently, internet access in Lesotho terminated in South Africa and was shaped and thus limited in international capacity. The connection provided by WIOCC terminates in Europe and provides Lesotho with faster and more affordable connectivity. This change will have a significant impact on the daily lives of the Basotho and Lesotho businesses,” explained WIOCC CEO, Chris Wood.

“Our extensive network reach also enables international enterprises, ISPs and carriers to terminate their services in Lesotho. This, together with the introduction of reduced wholesale pricing, will open up further opportunities in the region.”

“The extra bandwidth made available by WIOCC has enabled us to make a huge reduction in our internet access costs,” comments Mpine Tente, General Manager of Econet Telecom Lesotho (ETL) – the first operator in Lesotho to benefit from the WIOCC capacity. “We are taking advantage of our improved international connectivity to deliver more reliable and affordable broadband services to our customers. Public and private businesses will benefit from reduced prices. All Basotho will benefit from cheaper access to the internet.”

Read the full press release here.

WIOCC Event Schedule, 2012

WIOCC will be attending the following events during the second half of 2012:

• July 24 – 27: 6th African Service and Network Operations (SNO) Workshop, Sandton, Johannesburg
• September 11 – 13: Submarine Networks World, Singapore
• September 13 – 14: Capacity Africa, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
• October 2 – 3: Telecoms World Middle East, Carriers World Middle East, Submarine Networks World Middle East, Dubai
• November 12 – 14: Capacity Europe, Amsterdam
• November 13 – 15: AfricaCom, Cape Town, South Africa

WIOCC will be represented at the different events by Chris Wood – CEO, Ryan Sher – COO, James Wekesa – CCO, Mike Last – Director of Marketing & International Business Development, Hitesh Desai – Country Manager (S. Africa), Marcel Bhatti – Sales Manager (S. Africa), Winnie Karisa – Marketing Assistant & PA to CEO and Gillian Koech – Marketing Assistant.

Chris Wood will be joining a panel on ‘Upgrade or build: How do you justify cable system investments? at Submarine Networks World Singapore, James Wekesa will be on a panel discussing ‘Data and Content Growth in Africa’ at Capacity Africa and Mike Last will be discussing ‘The bandwidth revolution in Africa: status, challenges and opportunities’ at Telecoms World Middle East.

If you would like to book a meeting with WIOCC at any of the above-mentioned events, please contact us at info@wiocc.net.

Zantel launches 3G/3.5G for Zanzibar

WIOCC shareholder Zantel has launched 3G/3.5G mobile services based on HSPA+ technology on the island of Zanzibar, to improve internet access for the local population and afford them access to services such as multimedia (text, graphic, video and animation), mobile broadband internet access and improved voice call services.

Commenting on the launch, Zantel’s chief commercial officer Ahmed Mokhles said: ‘Zantel’s superior internet connectivity has gained popularity and is of high demand in Tanzania, and now the Zanzibaris will be able to enjoy the fastest internet speed.’

The operator’s new service is promising maximum download speeds of 21Mbps via its E 3131 modem, which is priced at TZS60,000 (US$39), and 7.2Mbps on the cheaper E 303 modem (costing TZS30,000). The cellco is also supporting handsets and devices on the new network, it said, including smartphones such as the BlackBerry and iPhone, iPads, tablets and other 3G modems and routers.

‘We will also be offering data bundles to our customers, giving them flexibility and choice to subscribe to a package that suits their lifestyles. Our customers can now enjoy internet for [as little as] TSZ500 for 30MB [bundle] and TZS3000 for 250MB,’ added Mr Mokhles.

Meet WIOCC at ITW 2012

WIOCC will be attending the International Telecoms Week (ITW) 2012 exhibition and conference from 14 – 16 May 2012 at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, IL.

WIOCC will be represented at the event by Chris Wood – CEO, Ryan Sher – COO, Mike Last – Director of Marketing & International Business Development, and Winnie Karisa, Marketing Assistant & PA to CEO.

Chris Wood will also be participating in a Spotlight on Africa executive roundtable entitled ‘Connectivity and opportunity’ on the morning of the 15th.

To set up a meeting with the WIOCC team, please contact us at info@wiocc.net.