Partnership will help accelerate access to ICT, enabling equitable distribution of digital know-how, job creation and enhanced socio-economic development
Mumbai, Kigali and Dakar 20th May 2019 – Tata Communications Transformation Services Limited (TCTS), a leading Telco transformation and managed services provider, is partnering with Africa Development Solutions (ADS Group) to facilitate building the fibre infrastructure backbone across Africa and enable a digital economy that can empower societies and communities, in line with the Smart Africa vision. TCTS will perform pre-feasibility assessments with ADS for African nations, studying existing as well as planned fibre infrastructure and deploy a strong multi-country connectivity infrastructure backbone.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) enabled innovations can drive economic opportunities across industries, benefitting consumers, businesses and governments. The Smart Africa initiative prioritises ICT as a key enabler and the pivot to drive the continent’s socio-economic development agenda. The initiative works towards improving scalability and accessibility of connectivity within and to urban, suburban and rural areas in Africa. This partnership between TCTS and ADS aims to drive deployment of ICT in the continent with the aim to promote equitable and sustainable development across African nations.
As a first step, TCTS and ADS are jointly coordinating the delivery of the ‘Western African Digital Pool’, which consists of deploying internet connectivity over 7 African countries, including Guinea-Conakry, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra-Leone, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia and Mali. This project will be conducted in conjunction with Smart Africa and is considered a major step towards the implementation of a single digital market in Africa. Proposed technologies may include aerial fibre and free space optical cables to ensure fast deployment, and best quality at affordable prices. TCTS and ADS plan to deliver the required infrastructure upon completion of the preliminary studies, currently undergoing the first phase.
Madhusudhan Mysore, Executive Chairman & CEO, Tata Communications Transformation Services says: “Over the past few years, ICT has emerged as a significant contributor to the African economy. At TCTS, we see this as an important landmark in the evolution of digital economy in Africa as connectivity becomes a prerequisite to the socio-economic development of the continent. TCTS has vast experience in leading Telcos in Africa to accelerate and de-risk their transformation journey. Our partnership with ADS will further strengthen TCTS’ presence in Africa and enable us to contribute more broadly in the knowledge sharing and nation building initiatives that will enhance competitiveness of the African continent.”
TCTS’ experience, spanning 10+ years, in transforming, simplifying and managing global networks offers ADS an edge in terms of market awareness, product knowledge, best practices and multi-vendor domain skills that can enable ADS to deliver real world success and value to customers.
With an extensive experience in supporting the development of fibre networks and innovative IT solutions designed for rural areas, where nearly 65% of the African population still lives today, ADS will be a partner of choice for TCTS. “It is great to see that a renowned expert in ICT networks deployment like TCTS is ready to further commit to Africa’s development”, said Samba Bathily, Founder and CEO of Africa Development Solutions. “We therefore look forward to working with TCTS teams and bring them our field experience and our own expertise in project assessment, management and financing. ICT access will be a game-changer and a growth-driver for the continent. We just need the infrastructure to create economic opportunities for our communities and unleash African talent and creativity,” he added.
TCTS manages one of the largest and most extensive fibre networks, consisting of over 500,000 kilometres subsea fibre and over 210,000 kilometres of terrestrial fibre, and has a strong track record in rapidly scaling resources and skills required for large scale design and roll-out of fibre infrastructure. With automation at the heart of its operations, TCTS provides expertise in planning, designing, roll-out, construction, activation and assurance of fibre network, along with streamlining industry standards and home grown processes to maximise efficiency.
TCTS and ADS showcased the next-generation communications infrastructure and roadmap that aims to transform Africa into an integrated single digital market, at the Transform Africa Summit 2019 in Kigali. TCTS and ADS conducted a workshop on Building a Single Digital Market for Africa, showcasing their respective experiences in next generation technologies enabling digital transformation and reducing digital divide by accelerating access to affordable and abundant internet using FSOC (Free Space Optical Communications), building Smart City & IoT networks, implementing and scaling-up the smart villages concept delivering E-health through Virtual clinics and bringing connectivity to the unconnected areas through Subsea networks and Safety through Cyber Security response centres.
About Tata Communications Transformation Services (TCTS)
Tata Communications Transformation Services (TCTS), a 100% subsidiary of Tata Communications Ltd, provides business transformation, managed network operations, network outsourcing and consultancy services to telecommunication companies around the world. TCTS is a global leader in delivering operational efficiency, cost transformation and revenue acceleration solutions for all stages of the carrier process lifecycle including but not limited to network engineering and design, implementation and operations functions.
TCTS is a part of the US$100+ billion Tata group, which comprises over 100 operating companies across seven business sectors. TCTS leverages the market expertise of the group’s global telecom capabilities and globally established IT, process and consulting skills.
TCTS is headquartered in Mumbai, India, with offices in Europe, North America and the Middle East. Through its two world-class India delivery centres in Pune and Chennai, TCTS preserves the independent functioning and full confidentiality of its customers’ business processes.
For more information, contact:
Tata Communications Transformation Services
Website: www.tatacommunications-ts.com
Twitter: @tata_tctsl
Facebook: @tata.tctsl
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tata-communications-transformation-services
About ADS Group
ADS Group (ADS) was launched in 2004 by Samba Bathily, a world-renowned African entrepreneur who pioneered the financial structuring of major infrastructure projects, particularly in the field of new technologies and clean energy. Under the ADS umbrella is a dynamic group active in the sectors of project-financing and consulting; technologies; industrial development; renewables and access to water; distribution and franchising; infrastructures, real estate, hotels and construction; automobile and logistics.
With regards to technologies and telecommunications, ADS has a specific experience in telecom infrastructure deployment as well as in the provision, through its key brands Afritek and Africa Digital Solutions, of solutions and products to offer tailored support to African Governments, Institutions and the Private sector. ADS is currently focusing efforts on helping to connect the African continent through a number of strategic projects, including cross-border country interconnectivity or digital solutions associated to off-grid renewable energy to support the development of African rural areas.
ADS is also the mother-company of Multi Industries Group, which leverages solar solutions to manufacture electricity equipment, mobility solutions and computers. Another of ADS’ famous ventures is Solektra International, which has launched an initiative that promotes awareness and usage of innovative solar solutions. To date more than 1775 localities have been electrified and positively impacted across the continent.
For more information, contact:
ADS Group
Website: http://adsglobalcorp.com/en/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ads-group-africa-developement-solutions/
Forward-looking and cautionary statements
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