Altech and Citynet to provide affordable broadband intenet access services in Sub-Saharan Africa

Altech announced today, the signing of a technology and distribution agreement with USA -based CityNet Wireless Incorporated and its global licensing partner CityNet Wireless International (Pty) Limited. The principle of this agreement will enable Altech to enter the broadband infrastructure and operator space in sub-Sahara Africa, using proven leading edge technology currently in operation in more than 40 cities world wide.
Broadband network delivery systems are now at the centre of all global digital communications says Altech CEO Craig Venter. Our choice of CityNet Wireless as our technology partner in this deal reflects our strategy to expand into broadband markets in Africa, where cost-efficient use of advanced IP-based wireless networks is the key to meeting massive pent up demand.
Venter, who has publicly indicated Altechs aspirations in the broadband operator space, continued, After an exhaustive search, we selected the solution developed by CityNet Wireless Incorporated, given their massively successful metro broadband rollouts across the world. These are underpinned by an elegantly designed, flexible and robust wireless architecture, which can be adapted inexpensively and deployed to the many African opportunities that now exist.
CityNet Wireless Incorporated, which has been deploying wireless WiFi mesh networks globally since 2003 including densely populated cities such as Houston, Panama City and Mexico City, has been particularly successful in reducing the traditional cost of urban networking, using a combination of standard WiFi protocols, mesh architecture for redundancy and network flexibility, and extensive network management software tools which allow for optimum throughput, minimum latency and maximum quality of service.
Altech, which operates at the intersection of telecommunications, multimedia and technology, has been cautious in its approach to broadband and has spent a number of years doing extensive market and technology research into the broadband area, even as it aggressively expanded its businesses in closely related areas like digital Tetra wireless networks at Altech Alcom Matomo, digital TV at Altech UEC, its extensive wireless network technology for vehicle tracking at Altech Netstar and network service provision at Altech Autopage.
We feel it is now strategically appropriate for Altech to embark in this new direction. We are confident, not only in the CityNet Wireless technology and experience, but that we have chosen the optimum moment to exploit this opportunity in Africa, Venter concluded.
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About Altech

Altech is a broad-based global high technology listed company offering products and services in the digital convergence space that lies at the intersection of telecommunications, technology and multimedia.
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For more information please contact:
STEVEN SIDLEY: CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
TEL: (011) 715 9000
FAX: (011) 715-9044
CELL: 082 600 6857
EMAIL: ssidley@altech.co.za
OR
PAULA EUGENIO: GROUP MANAGER: PR & MEDIA
TEL: (011) 715-9037
FAX: (011) 715-9044
CELL: 083 495 3806
EMAIL: peugenio@altech.co.za