OVERVIEW
ICT Incentives are encouraging investment.
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ompanies and educational bodies in the ICT sector can apply for incentives from the National Department of Trade and Industry (dti). These include:
The Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP): companies and educational institutions working to improve technology; 50/50 cost sharing grant to a maximum of R8-million Technology Development Fund: the Technology Innovation Agency makes up to R50-million available for up to 10 years Technology Venture Capital: managed by the Industrial Development Corporation; commercialisation of innovative products, processes and technologies.
Liquid Telecom paid R6.5-billion in 2017 to buy South African network operator Neotel. Liquid Telecom is part of the Econet group. Royal Bafokeng Holdings will take up a 30% shareholding in Neotel as part of the deal. The transaction significantly expands the reach of the fibre network which, it is claimed, will be Africa’s largest broadband network. Twelve countries are currently connected by 40 000km of fibre network, with more expansion part of the business plan. The Information Technology Association (ITA) is the trade and employer body of the Information Technology industry in South Africa. The ITA represents more than 200 companies which SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2019
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SECTOR INSIGHT Fibre is being rolled out in some low-income areas. • Neotel has changed hands for R6.5-billion. supply information technology equipment, systems, software and services. Members include IBM, Microsoft SA, Siemens, SAP and Axiz. A new technology venture was launched when Cape Town hosted AfricArena 2017, a conference that aimed to be a “bridge between international technology stalwarts and African technology innovators”. A collaboration between Silicon Cape and La French Tech Cape Town, it brought together investors,
