Very true Brian. This is one of the biggest deals we are going to see in a very long time (some analysts are estimating it to be around US$ 1.5 billion - Kshs 120 billion).
Bharti can leverage on this (and other outsourcing of the network towers, BTS, etc) to reduce its operating expenditure (and thus sustain the low tariffs they have introduced). They can bring about very high levels efficiency across its 16 networks by using a single supplier whose expertise spans infrastructure, software and services. Indeed the relations with Bhart go back to Bharti's operations in India where IBM are their partners.
Interestingly out of all the vendors, IBM have been able to anticipate the evolution among telcos and the services they can provide (managed services, data centre hosting, DR, etc) and positioning themselves suitably to help telcos move ahead, and while focusing on their core activity also innovate, heighten their responsiveness to market needs, etc.
On Sep 17, 2010 4:29pm, Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> This is a bold move and a clear statement of how serious Bharti is taking the intervention in Africa. As James Murua points out in his blog post (http://bit.ly/avQeUT) Bharti is working with IBM so that they (Bharti) can focus on their core strengths and hit the market hard through partnerships.
>
>
> In the words of a speaker at AITEC's EA ICT conference, Bharti outsources "everything" which allows them to minimize on capital and operating expenses - but more importantly - to hit their target markets hard and square.
>
>
> Can't wait to see what else they have up their sleeve!
>
> Regards,
>
> Brian
>
> On Fri, Sep 17, 2010 at 3:16 PM, Glenn Sequeira gsequeira@gmail.com> wrote:
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> On Fri, Sep 17, 2010 at 3:59 PM, Dennis Kioko dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:
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>
>
>
>
> > For those who missed it, IBMs Samuel Palmisano was in the country this
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> > morning, physically, not virtually via Hologram . He was here for the
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> > announcement about Bharti's partnership with IBM.
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>
>
>
> Here's the press release from IBM:
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>
>
> http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/32505.wss
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>
>
> ~glenn
>
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> Brian Munyao Longwe
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