Spescom Limited
Encyclopedia
Spescom Limited is an information and communications technology (ICT) Group listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE: SPS) [1] . Founded in 1977[2], it provides specialised business communication
solution
s for a broad client base that includes telecoms providers (carriers and cellular network operators), broadcaster
s, contact centers, government
and enterprises in various industry sectors.
Its offerings for these various industry sectors include solution
design; supply and commissioning of infrastructure
and applications; the development and delivery of integrated solution
s; and the supply of hosted and managed services.
Three operating divisions have been established to serve these sectors:
Two further divisions are:
The expertise in each division is cross-leveraged to develop solution
s for clients – e.g., telecoms expertise (connectivity and throughput) is now required by broadcasters who must gear for the delivery of IPTV
.
Spescom has a presence in South Africa
, sub-Saharan Africa
, Europe
and the Middle East
. It has a staff complement of 258[2] with offices in South Africa (Midrand, Cape Town
and Durban
), East Africa
(Kampala
, Uganda
) and the UK (London
).
to South Africa in the same year.
In 1983 Spescom International Incorporated was established in Irvine, California
by Gary Smith, a senior founding member of Spescom. The objectives of this international arm of the company were to maintain technical links with the company's suppliers as well as to provide international marketing for products developed by Spescom.
The company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on 4 June 1987. In September 1990 the company developed and introduced the world’s first keypad prepayment electricity meter
, Cashpower 2000, to South Africa. The device was licensed by meter manufacturers worldwide.
In 1993, Spescom won its first major international tender for prepayment meters in Brazil
. These meters are now sold in over thirty-five countries worldwide.
On 6 March 1995 the company formed a joint venture
with Siemens
called Energy Measurements in order to provide a world centre of excellence in energy management
and revenue collection systems, focusing on prepayment electricity metering. Spescom no longer has an interest in this market space.
In 2007, Spescom narrowed its focus, exiting its interest in the enterprise software
sector with the sale of its US operation, Enterprise Informatics,[4] to concentrate on the accelerating global trend towards the convergence of voice, video and data communications.
In 2008, the company introduced Libra Mobile, the first unified solution
for mobile and fixed-line telephony recording[5].
In 2010, the company established NewTelco South Africa in partnership with NewTelco GmbH. NewTelco SA is a carrier neutral co-location service provider for local, regional and international carriers in South Africa.
In mid 2010, the company established an office in Kampala, Uganda from which to launch its entry into East Africa.
Today, Spescom is a major supplier to large African communication organisations including Telkom, Neotel
[6] and Sentech
public South African and regional television and radio broadcasters; large financial institutions, public sector
clients and some of the largest contact centres on the African continent.
solution
s and services to medium and large organisations. It offers integrated business communication solution
s, hosted and managed services, solution
engineering and custom integration, support and SLA services, and training. Its customers include a large number of South Africa's top 200 companies. Key technology partners include Avaya
, with whom it has Platinum Certification; Presence Technology; Spescom DataVoice; and Jacada
.
s that record, manage, re-create and analyse voice transactions, as well as solutions that address associated value processes within the business–i.e., performance management, workforce optimisation and quality assurance
. Spescom DataVoice’s products – which include the Libra and Nexus voice and screen recording solution
s; Qnique, a performance management
and workflow
solution
; and Libra Mobile, a unified mobile and fixed-line recording solution
- are deployed in the United States, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Its customers include mid-sized and large enterprises, contact centres, trade floors, emergency services, utilities and government. Spescom DataVoice’s solution
s are sold directly as well as through channel partners located in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
s, services and enabling technologies and equipment from image capture through to transmission. Its offering includes supply and implementation of relevant technology and equipment, as well as services such as consultation, design, planning, workflow analysis, project management, training, support, repairs and maintenance. Its key technology partners include Sony
and Avid. Clients include SABC, Multichoice in South Africa, and Mauritius Broadcast Corporation, Swazi TV and Namibia Broadcast Corporation.
, project management
, procurement, logistics, installation, commissioning, testing, support and training. This is enabled by its team who provide services with systems integration, maintenance and migration of transport and access networks, as well as local support. This division counts major network operators and service providers among its customers. Key technology partners include ECI Telecom
, Gilat Satellite Networks
, Rad Data Communications
, RadWin
, Ceragon Networks and Light Pointe.
Business communication
Business Communication: communication used to promote a product, service, or organization; relay information within the business; or deal with legal and similar issues. It is also a means of relaying between a supply chain, for example the consumer and manufacturer.Business Communication is known...
solution
Solution
In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. The solvent does the dissolving.- Types of solutions :...
s for a broad client base that includes telecoms providers (carriers and cellular network operators), broadcaster
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
s, contact centers, government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
and enterprises in various industry sectors.
Its offerings for these various industry sectors include solution
Solution
In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. The solvent does the dissolving.- Types of solutions :...
design; supply and commissioning of infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
and applications; the development and delivery of integrated solution
Solution
In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. The solvent does the dissolving.- Types of solutions :...
s; and the supply of hosted and managed services.
Three operating divisions have been established to serve these sectors:
- Spescom DataFusion - communications requirements in contact centres, enterprises
- Spescom Media IT – broadcasting sector
- Spescom Telecommunications - telecoms providers (carriers and network operators)
Two further divisions are:
- Spescom DataVoice – the company’s R&D arm, which develops proprietary solutionSolutionIn chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. The solvent does the dissolving.- Types of solutions :...
s (e.g., voice recording) to support contact centre and enterprise communication platforms - New Telco South Africa – a carrier neutral co-location service providerService providerA service provider is an entity that provides services to other entities. Usually, this refers to a business that provides subscription or web service to other businesses or individuals. Examples of these services include Internet access, Mobile phone operators, and web application hosting...
for telecoms carriers
The expertise in each division is cross-leveraged to develop solution
Solution
In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. The solvent does the dissolving.- Types of solutions :...
s for clients – e.g., telecoms expertise (connectivity and throughput) is now required by broadcasters who must gear for the delivery of IPTV
IPTV
Internet Protocol television is a system through which television services are delivered using the Internet protocol suite over a packet-switched network such as the Internet, instead of being delivered through traditional terrestrial, satellite signal, and cable television formats.IPTV services...
.
Spescom has a presence in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. It has a staff complement of 258[2] with offices in South Africa (Midrand, Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
and Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
), East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
(Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
) and the UK (London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
).
History
Spescom was founded in September 1977 by Tony Farah with ZAR 4,000 capital. The company’s initial focus was on test instrumentation and it brought the world's first digital oscilloscopeOscilloscope
An oscilloscope is a type of electronic test instrument that allows observation of constantly varying signal voltages, usually as a two-dimensional graph of one or more electrical potential differences using the vertical or 'Y' axis, plotted as a function of time,...
to South Africa in the same year.
In 1983 Spescom International Incorporated was established in Irvine, California
Irvine, California
Irvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
by Gary Smith, a senior founding member of Spescom. The objectives of this international arm of the company were to maintain technical links with the company's suppliers as well as to provide international marketing for products developed by Spescom.
The company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on 4 June 1987. In September 1990 the company developed and introduced the world’s first keypad prepayment electricity meter
Electricity meter
An electricity meter or energy meter is a device that measures the amount of electric energy consumed by a residence, business, or an electrically powered device....
, Cashpower 2000, to South Africa. The device was licensed by meter manufacturers worldwide.
In 1993, Spescom won its first major international tender for prepayment meters in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. These meters are now sold in over thirty-five countries worldwide.
On 6 March 1995 the company formed a joint venture
Joint venture
A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...
with Siemens
Siemens
Siemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG...
called Energy Measurements in order to provide a world centre of excellence in energy management
Energy management system
An energy management system is a system of computer-aided tools used by operators of electric utility grids to monitor, control, and optimize the performance of the generation and/or transmission system...
and revenue collection systems, focusing on prepayment electricity metering. Spescom no longer has an interest in this market space.
In 2007, Spescom narrowed its focus, exiting its interest in the enterprise software
Enterprise software
Enterprise software, also known as enterprise application software , is software used in organizations, such as in a business or government, contrary to software chosen by individuals...
sector with the sale of its US operation, Enterprise Informatics,[4] to concentrate on the accelerating global trend towards the convergence of voice, video and data communications.
In 2008, the company introduced Libra Mobile, the first unified solution
Solution
In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. The solvent does the dissolving.- Types of solutions :...
for mobile and fixed-line telephony recording[5].
In 2010, the company established NewTelco South Africa in partnership with NewTelco GmbH. NewTelco SA is a carrier neutral co-location service provider for local, regional and international carriers in South Africa.
In mid 2010, the company established an office in Kampala, Uganda from which to launch its entry into East Africa.
Today, Spescom is a major supplier to large African communication organisations including Telkom, Neotel
Neotel
Neotel Ltd., previously SNO Telecommunications, is the second national operator for fixed line telecommunication services in South Africa. It was unveiled on August 31, 2006 in Kyalami in northern Johannesburg...
[6] and Sentech
Sentech
Sentech is the signal distributor for the South African broadcasting sector. The organisation began operations in 1992 as the signal distributor of the South African Broadcasting Corporation...
public South African and regional television and radio broadcasters; large financial institutions, public sector
Public sector
The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
clients and some of the largest contact centres on the African continent.
Spescom DataFusion
Spescom DataFusion provides contact centre and enterprise telephonyTelephony
In telecommunications, telephony encompasses the general use of equipment to provide communication over distances, specifically by connecting telephones to each other....
solution
Solution
In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. The solvent does the dissolving.- Types of solutions :...
s and services to medium and large organisations. It offers integrated business communication solution
Solution
In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. The solvent does the dissolving.- Types of solutions :...
s, hosted and managed services, solution
Solution
In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. The solvent does the dissolving.- Types of solutions :...
engineering and custom integration, support and SLA services, and training. Its customers include a large number of South Africa's top 200 companies. Key technology partners include Avaya
Avaya
Avaya Inc. is a privately held computer networking, information technology and telecommunications company that is a global provider of business communications systems. The international head quarters is in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, United States...
, with whom it has Platinum Certification; Presence Technology; Spescom DataVoice; and Jacada
Jacada
Jacada is a software and services company which provides unified desktop and process optimization software solutions for the customer service and support market...
.
Spescom DataVoice
Spescom DataVoice researches and develops proprietary technology products and solutionSolution
In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. The solvent does the dissolving.- Types of solutions :...
s that record, manage, re-create and analyse voice transactions, as well as solutions that address associated value processes within the business–i.e., performance management, workforce optimisation and quality assurance
Quality Assurance
Quality assurance, or QA for short, is the systematic monitoring and evaluation of the various aspects of a project, service or facility to maximize the probability that minimum standards of quality are being attained by the production process...
. Spescom DataVoice’s products – which include the Libra and Nexus voice and screen recording solution
Solution
In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. The solvent does the dissolving.- Types of solutions :...
s; Qnique, a performance management
Performance management
Performance management includes activities that ensure that goals are consistently being met in an effective and efficient manner. Performance management can focus on the performance of an organization, a department, employee, or even the processes to build a product or service, as well as many...
and workflow
Workflow
A workflow consists of a sequence of connected steps. It is a depiction of a sequence of operations, declared as work of a person, a group of persons, an organization of staff, or one or more simple or complex mechanisms. Workflow may be seen as any abstraction of real work...
solution
Solution
In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. The solvent does the dissolving.- Types of solutions :...
; and Libra Mobile, a unified mobile and fixed-line recording solution
Solution
In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. The solvent does the dissolving.- Types of solutions :...
- are deployed in the United States, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Its customers include mid-sized and large enterprises, contact centres, trade floors, emergency services, utilities and government. Spescom DataVoice’s solution
Solution
In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. The solvent does the dissolving.- Types of solutions :...
s are sold directly as well as through channel partners located in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
Spescom Media IT
Spescom Media IT provides broadcast industry solutionSolution
In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. The solvent does the dissolving.- Types of solutions :...
s, services and enabling technologies and equipment from image capture through to transmission. Its offering includes supply and implementation of relevant technology and equipment, as well as services such as consultation, design, planning, workflow analysis, project management, training, support, repairs and maintenance. Its key technology partners include Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
and Avid. Clients include SABC, Multichoice in South Africa, and Mauritius Broadcast Corporation, Swazi TV and Namibia Broadcast Corporation.
Spescom Telecommunications
Spescom Telecommunications is a systems integrator for fixed and mobile telecommunications network operators; utilities; transportation and government communications backbones; and for carrier network operators’ transmission and access networks. Its services include planning, engineeringEngineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
, project management
Project management
Project management is the discipline of planning, organizing, securing, and managing resources to achieve specific goals. A project is a temporary endeavor with a defined beginning and end , undertaken to meet unique goals and objectives, typically to bring about beneficial change or added value...
, procurement, logistics, installation, commissioning, testing, support and training. This is enabled by its team who provide services with systems integration, maintenance and migration of transport and access networks, as well as local support. This division counts major network operators and service providers among its customers. Key technology partners include ECI Telecom
ECI Telecom
ECI Telecom Ltd is a global telecom networking infrastructure provider headquartered in Petah Tikva, Israel. It provides communications platforms and solutions to carriers and service providers, cable/multiple system operators, wireless/cellular service providers, utilities and carrier of carriers,...
, Gilat Satellite Networks
Gilat Satellite Networks
Gilat Satellite Networks is a public company headquartered in Israel that develops and sells VSAT satellite ground stations and related equipment...
, Rad Data Communications
RAD Data Communications
RAD Data Communications is a privately held corporation, based in Tel Aviv, Israel, that designs and manufacturers specialized networking equipment.RAD Data Communications is a member of the RAD Group of companies.-History:...
, RadWin
Radwin
RADWIN provides wireless broadband Point-to-Point and Multiple Point-to-Point solutions in the Sub-6 GHz spectrum. The company's solutions deliver TDM + Ethernet with long range and high capacity....
, Ceragon Networks and Light Pointe.