18 January 2013 Telkom ready for AFCON 2013

Telkom welcomes the start of the much anticipated 2013 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and is geared and ready to deliver a range of critical services required to host this major sporting event.

The 2013 AFCON takes place from 19 January until 10 February. Telkom has been requested to render a range of Information Technology and Telecommunications (IT&T) services for the duration.

"Having prepared for the 2013 AFCON in record time, Telkom is pleased to help tie together this nation-building event. Smooth technical operations are crucial for the success of such occasions and we will deliver nothing less," said Telkom Business Managing Director, Dr Brian Armstrong.

Telkom was chosen as the ICT partner for the event for several reasons, including a credible track record and technical expertise based on the successes attained during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The Company will also leverage its superior network management capabilities; effective solution delivery methodologies for large and complex projects; national and international network infrastructure footprints; and world class technologies to cater for voice, data and video communication to deliver a flawless communication experience throughout the event.

For the first time at a major sporting event, Telkom will be providing a range of both voice and data mobile services and products.

Best practices adopted during the 2010 FIFA World Cup will help ensure optimal availability, high throughput performance and sound broadband delivery. Telkom will cover the event comprehensively, utilising known processes and by leveraging legacy technology. The Company's delivery of services for the 2013 AFCON is subject to the completion of commercial arrangements between the relevant parties.

"The experience of the 2010 FIFA World Cup has helped Telkom greatly in delivering on critical services for events like the AFCON. The scales of the two events are vastly different and as a result, so are the risks. We could not be better prepared," said Dr Armstrong.

Telkom will also deliver an IP based Virtual Private Network (VPN) for the purposes of voice, data and video traffic. This will ensure that the Local Organising Committee's (LOC's) Sandton headquarters will be connected in real-time to the five stadiums being used (Johannesburg, Nelspruit, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Rustenburg) at any point in time. The service will be proactively managed from the Telkom National Network Operations Centre (NNOC) in Centurion.

To ensure that this African sporting event can be broadcast internationally, Telkom has made provision for Internet access for both national and international communication to be used by the international media fraternity. This will enable journalists and commentators to file their respective stories on time. Wireless access (WiFi) services will be deployed at locations such as the media tribune, broadcast compound, and accreditation centres at each of the utilised stadiums.

"Every precaution has been taken to avoid network failures, including additional redundancy via dual access infrastructure and 24/7 network management," said Dr Armstrong.

Telkom will also be deploying six telepresence units at the stadiums and LOC headquarters in Sandton to support the operational requirements of the AFCON LOC.

Caption: Telkom technicians installing equipment at the National Soccer Stadium ahead of the 2013 African Cup Of Nations Soccer Tournament.

For further enquiries, please contact:

PYNEE CHETTY

Senior Specialist: Media Relations
Tel.: (012) 311-5247
Cell: 081 389 7874
Email: chettpr2@telkom.co.za

or

LEIGH-ANN FRANCIS

Specialist: Media Relations
Tel.: (012) 311-7114
Cell: 081 391 4780
Email: francilm@telkom.co.za

About Telkom

Telkom is a leading communications services provider in South Africa and on the African continent. We had consolidated operating revenue from continuing operations of R33.1 billion and profit for the year from continuing operations of R179 million for the year ended 31 March 2012. Total assets from continuing operations amounted to R52.6 billion and equity attributable to the owners of Telkom to R29.7 billion as of 31 March 2012. The group generated free cash flow of R2.1 billion for the year ended 31 March 2012.

We had consolidated operating revenue of R16.1 billion and profit after tax of R222 million for the six months ended 30 September 2012. Total assets amounted to R53.3 billion and equity attributable to the owners of Telkom to R29.8 billion as of 30 September 2012. The group generated free cash flow of R1.5 billion for the six months ended 30 September 2012.

As of 30 September 2012, we had approximately 3.9 million telephone access lines in service and 99.9% of our telephone access lines were connected to digital exchanges. We offer business, residential and payphone customers a wide range of services and products, including:

  • fixed-line subscription and connection services to post-paid, prepaid and private payphone customers using PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) lines, including ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) lines, and the sale of the subscription based value-added voice services and customer premises equipment rental and sales;
  • fixed-line traffic services to post-paid, prepaid, and payphone customers, including local, long distance, fixed-to-mobile, international outgoing and international voice-over-internet protocol traffic services;
  • interconnection services, including terminating and transiting traffic from South African mobile operators, as well as from international operators and transiting traffic from mobile to international destinations;
  • fixed-line data centre operations and internet services, including domestic and international data transmission services, such as point-to-point leased lines, ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line) services, packet-based services, managed data networking services and internet access and related information technology services;
  • e-commerce, including internet access service provider, application service provider, hosting, data storage, e-mail and security services;
  • mobile communication services, including voice services, data services and handset sales through its mobile brand called 8•ta; and Telkom Business Mobile; and
  • other services including directory services, through Trudon (Proprietary) Limited, wireless data services, through Swiftnet (Proprietary) Limited and internet services outside South Africa, through iWayAfrica Group (integration of Africa Online Limited and MWEB Africa Limited).
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