Altron joins Nokia Global Partner Program

Celebrating the Nokia partnership, are (from left standing), Patrick Hastings (Bytes Systems Integration), Dr Willie Oosthuysen (Altron), Wael Aglan (Nokia), Tim Ellis (Altron), and JT Engelbrecht (Altech Radio Holdings).   Kneeling (from left) Jan Liebenberg (Nokia), Ismael Hassa (Nokia), Sarel Van Wyk (Bytes Systems Integration), and Shaun Brashaw (Altech Netstar). JSE listed Allied Electronics Corporation Limited (Altron) today announced it has signed a channel partnership agreement with Nokia (NSE: NOK) and joined the Nokia Global Partner Program. Nokia is a global leader in the technologies that connect people and things. With state-of-the-art software, hardware and services for any type of network, Nokia is uniquely positioned to help communication service providers, governments, and large enterprises deliver on the promise of 5G, the Cloud and the Internet of Things.As a result of this relationship, Altron will market, distribute and service Nokias network solutions portfolio to enterprise and public sector customers as a direct reseller and systems integrator. Altron will draw on the strength, skills and experience of Nokia to extend the availability of Nokias carrier class solutions in South Africa. These solutions include IP/MPLS, secure optical transport, RAN, microwave, fixed networks, Passive Optical LAN (POL) and importantly, flexible access technologies based on copper, fibre and wireless through RAN/WIFI/Small Cell.According to Dr Willie Oosthuysen, Altron Group Executive for Technology and Strategy, the partnership with Nokia will enable Altron to offer its customers significant experience and knowledge in network solutions. We are excited about the partnership particularly with regard to the extent and robustness of the technology and solutions portfolio, the strong culture of innovation and the partnership model. The partnership model suits Altron as we complement each others strengths very well.  Through carrier grade solutions from Nokia and proven expertise and systems integration experience from Altron, our customers can comfortably entrust their mission-critical networks to our partnership, Oosthuysen said. Furthermore, apart from the current Nokia offering, the focus on future mobile communication technologies, such as 5G, is likely to be very different to that which we are familiar with today. While demand for mobile broadband will continue to increase, largely driven by ultra-high definition video and smart devices, we are already seeing a need for disruptive core and access technologies that provide seamless and pervasive connectivity for devices and things.  Altron, together with Nokia, is well positioned to help our customers realise their ambitions, Oosthuysen concluded. Ismael Hassa, Nokia Head of Partner Management – MEA, concurred and added: We are already seeing the growing impact of human possibilities of technology as the important things around us become ever more connected. Underpinning this, players in the enterprise and public sector markets are demanding carrier grade reliability, flexible core and access technologies and rich network management solutions that are empowering.With Altron already supporting large Nokia enterprise and public sector customers, this partnership will grow from the current customer base, into a far more comprehensive partnership. Nokias partner program is unique in that we are focused on working with a very limited number of partners that are the best at what they do, have the competence, capacity and capability to service all types of customers, and, more importantly, are relentless in delivering real value.  Altron surpasses our partnership selection criteria and we are proud to be associated with them, Hassa added.-ENDS-