Tellumat Telecoms has signed a three-year renewable deal to supply Telkom's omnipresent retail shops with phones and small office communications systems.
The contract was awarded months after Telkom's Request for Proposal for the Supply of Client Premises Equipment for the Retail Market. Potentially worth R150 million in turnover over the three years, the deal brings kudos as well as a significant financial boost to Tellumat.
"The deal is 100% in line with our strategy to align ourselves with the major players in the telecoms market," says Bennie Langenhoven, GM of Tellumat Telecoms. "It opens up a significant new retail channel for us, whereas in the past we have been focused almost solely on turnkey business communications systems and services." In size alone, Tellumat's diversification into the consumer space is a worthy addition to its existing business communications competency, which has sold two million ports in two decades.
Top of Telkom's list of supplier criteria were black empowerment and, of course, stringent quality standards. As a 32% black-owned company, Tellumat qualifies as a 'black-empowered company' in terms of the DTI's Codes of Good Practice. It has also achieved a Level 4 rating in terms of the Codes, which has secured it the status of a 'Superior Contributor' to BEE.
In terms of the company's product credentials, it has exclusive sub-Saharan distribution rights for telephones and systems from Lake Communications, an Ireland-based manufacturer of communications equipment for small offices and home users, and for the products of Inter-Tel, a US maker of comms systems for the small- and medium-sized market. Tellumat also distributes Kirk wireless DECT solutions, a Danish manufacturer recently acquired by Polycom.
All three companies have impeccable credentials overseas. Lake's Sigma solution for the single-line broadband (small office) market was put on the map in no uncertain terms by British Telecoms, and is now disappearing off the shelves in SA. As for Inter-Tel, after its merger with Mitel it has become a top North American comms provider in the SMB market, as well as the UK. Its products have received multiple awards for product excellence, value for money and innovation. Kirk, in turn, is globally renowned for quality commercial wireless solutions, and is known for the speech quality and durability of its handsets.
Langenhoven says Tellumat can scarcely conceive of a bigger local endorsement of its product set and delivery capacity. "We are proud to have earned Telkom's trust in the face of such stiff competition."
For more information contact Bennie Langenhoven, Tellumat Telecoms, +27 (0)21 710 2375, [email protected], www.tellumat.com
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