Altech and Neotel sign major deal

 Allied Technologies Limited (Altech) announced today that its telecommunications subsidiary, Altech Autopage Cellular, has signed a distribution agreement with Neotel.  The channel partnership affords Altech Autopage Cellular the opportunity to market Neotels entire product range, allowing customers to purchase off the shelf fixed line, voice and data products.  The partnership, which is effective as of the 27th of August 2008, will provide South Africas new telecommunications network with a nationwide retail distribution point. 
 
Altech Autopage Cellular, the largest independent cellular provider in the country, has been a player in the telecoms space for over 14 years and is considered to be a telecommunications and connectivity specialist channel in the market, offering a vast range of products to service the needs of their customers.  Altech Autopage Cellular is proud to be Neotels anchor telecommunications distribution partner.
As part of offering Altech Autopage Cellulars almost 1 million subscriber base a wider choice of products as well as providing a one-stop telecommunications destination, Altech Autopage Cellulars latest product addition will be distributed by the companys over 150  franchise stores, from as early as October of this year. 
Altechs Chief Executive Officer, Craig Venter commented Altech Autopage Cellular has a long history of independence and resides as South Africas leading independent service provider in the mobile telephony and data markets.
Venter added, Weve always offered the customer a variety of choices from networks, tariffs and devices, and we have consistently, and will continue to offer the most competitive prices to the consumer. Our distribution agreement with Neotel fits perfectly with this business strategy.
The partnership with Neotel will afford Altech Autopage Cellulars customers, many of whom do not have a fixed line telephone or data service, an immediate proposition of a fixed line solution to enhance and complement their existing mobile services.  Neotel offers the consumer a viable alternative to Telkoms existing products and services.
Stephen Blewett, Altech Autopage Cellulars Managing Director also commented As of today, we are no longer just a cellular and data business.  We have now firmly embarked on our journey to become the most comprehensive, valued-added provider of connectivity services to business and consumers in South Africa.
Venter says, We are confident that the addition of the Neotel products will drive incremental revenue and profitability within Altech, with constant revenue streams being derived as the Neotel network continues its coverage expansion drive.
Venter added, We firmly believe that our latest product offering will aid in strengthening our competitive edge in the market place, by offering a more comprehensive product range at highly competitive prices that will be to the consumers benefit.  Effectively this provides a ˜one-stop-shop for all our customers communication needsfrom cellular, to data, to fixed line.
Venter concludes Todays announcement confirms speculation in the market which featured in the media some two weeks ago regarding a distribution deal between Neotel and a national distributor. 
 
For more information please contact:
 
CRAIG VENTER
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER – ALTECH
 
TEL: (011) 715-9004
FAX: (011) 715-9045
CELL: 083 236 8000
EMAIL: cventer@altech.co.za