Press Release

Carl Edom, networks engineer and engineering technical lead solutions architect at JSE-listed Altron subsidiary Altech Radio Holdings, has become the first South African and only the third person in the world to certify as a double HCIE (Huawei Certified Internetworking Expert).

He is also the first person not hailing from China to qualify as a double HCIE, HCIE Network Routing and Switching and HCIE Storage.

The combined certifications validate the knowledge and skills required to construct, optimise, and manage large and medium-sized enterprise networks as well as storage systems and solutions – something Edom is involved in, as Altech Radio Holdings (Altron Nexus) is responsible for the planning, design and implementation of a number of large scale broadband networks within the South African public sector.

Brett Nash, MD of Altron Nexus, said it was phenomenal that South African engineers were coming to the fore in what was an exciting and growing ICT space. “We are exceptionally proud of Carl. Huawei is a global force and a pioneer in telecommunications and we are committed to upskilling our workforce to further strengthen our strategic alliance with Huawei and to ensure that we provide our customers with the best technical expertise available.”

This certification means Edom has the skills and expertise to design and implement complex enterprise networks as well as storage solutions, and is a differentiator for Altron Nexus in the South African environment.

“We are a dedicated Huawei ICT solutions provider and leading value-added partner of Huawei in South Africa, through flagship Huawei projects and an extensive number of Huawei certified engineers. It therefore made sense Altron Nexusfor me to align myself with this shared vision by completing both of these HCIE certifications which are relevant to our business,” Edom said.

Edom said his role at  included spearheading technical and functional input for requests for information and proposals as well evaluating and providing architectural advice for project enhancements by examining current and target architecture.

The HCIE certification required hard work, dedication and many hours of self-sacrifice for successful completion. “On-the-job experience is essential given that a practiced level of understanding within each discipline is a minimum starting point.”

To achieve an HCIE certification not only is one required to pass a stringent written examination but also practical lab examinations and a panel interview with Huawei’s technology experts in China.

“Having successfully completed the HCIE programme twice has been a highlight of my career. Not only has it encouraged a better collaborative partnership with Huawei but it has given me a better insight into the various technologies and solutions provided by Huawei and how these can be of benefit to our customers.”

The theme of this year’s event was “Walking for South Africa” and walk, we did!  The gathering was met with widespread celebration, and promotion of community causes, as walkers conquered the 15km, 8km, and 5km routes with gusto and excitement. If we could bottle the collective energy, load shedding will be a thing of the past.

The 15km route jumpstarted the event, as walkers paced their way around some of the city’s most iconic monuments, and infrastructure including the Nelson Mandela Bridge.

The 8km and 5km routes took walkers throughout the leafy suburbs surrounding Marks Park sports club in Emmarentia.

Despite the cold, thousands of people showed up in colourful costumes to showcase their support for a worthwhile cause. The smiles on the faces of the people of various shapes, sizes, ages and backgrounds showed that the simple act of walking can bring a city together.

The behind the scenes activities of an event such as this is so important and not an easy task. Hats off to the organisers who do an amazing job.   They always make it look so easy, but we could see they were exhausted.  Between irate residents and flustered vendors, it made us very proud to see our technology playing a part in making their life a little bit easier.   Big sporting events, have all the elements needed to create spectacular drama.  It is a construction site, a theatre, a gym, a huge kitchen, a crèche, a psychologist’s office, a huge bar, a political hotspot – and last, but not least a hospital! Communication is vital to make an event like this a success.

We are once again very proud to have been part of this event.  We got things done and enjoyed the experience.  We embraced diversity and inclusion.  We showed passion for our customers, partners, employees and communities and we definitely collaborated across teams.

Its main focus is the roll out of broadband network infrastructure across the province, but it has also been closely involved over the past two years with bringing four schools into the ICT age.

As an integral part of the society and the global community Altron Nexus initiated the Impumelelo project, which focuses on delivering integrated solutions with the intention of uprooting social ills and preparing for industry 4.0.

On #MandelaDay this year, Altron Nexus spent the day at its three adopted schools for 2018.

As part of this project, a new ICT laboratory and renovated ablution facilities were unveiled at the Mohlakeng Primary School in Randfontein. The school’s new administration centre – also sponsored by Altron Nexus– is currently being built.

The day’s events also included a career expo at Lukhanyo Secondary School, where Altron Nexus, Khulisa Academy, AME Technologies and the UJ initiative – Resolution Circle showcased different technologies to the learners.

Representing Altron at the event was CE Mteto Nyati and Brett Nash, the MD of Altron Nexus. eGovernment MEC Barbara Creecy, whose department has to fulfil the province’s eGovernment mandate, officiated on behalf of the province.

The work at Mohlakeng Primary School is part of the more than R4 million Altron Nexus has invested in ICT labs. The other three labs, one each at Badirile Secondary School in Carletonville, AB Phokompe Secondary School and Phandulwazi Primary School in Randfontein, were handed over in 2017

While going through the different showcases, MEC of Finance- Barbara Creecy shared with those that were present that a friend of hers often says, “to find the needle, one has to build a hay stack”. Talent, skills and pure genius cannot be found where there is no initiative. She urged for more maths and science support in high schools.

In his address at the handover event, Mteto Nyati said that Altron knew it had to be relevant in the areas where it operated. It achieved this by understanding the challenges communities faced, and then using the company’s capabilities and technology to help address those challenges.

He told the learners that it was education that got him where he is today, and he encouraged learners to look after the ICT lab equipment so that those following them could also benefit from it.

“Thank you for allowing Altron to do what it loves the most, which is to partner with government in changing the lives of the people of South Africa,” concluded Mteto.

Avigilon designs, develops and manufactures advanced security surveillance solutions, including video analytics, network video management software and hardware, surveillance cameras and access control solutions used by commercial and government customers. Avigilon holds more than 750 U.S. and international patents and manufactures its products in the U.S. and Canada.

“This acquisition will bring Avigilon’s advanced video surveillance and analytics platform to the rapidly evolving public safety workflow, while also expanding our portfolio with new products and technologies for commercial customers,” said Greg Brown, chairman and CEO, Motorola Solutions. “Video can play a powerful role in creating safer cities and thriving businesses. It can serve as highly efficient ‘eyes and ears’ for monitoring a given location, and advanced video analytics can proactively alert officials to a perimeter breach or quickly find a person who left behind an object of interest.”

As more cameras feed into public safety workflows, video surveillance and analytics will enable more public-private partnerships between local communities and law enforcement.

“Our partnership with Motorola Solutions brings advanced video surveillance and analytics to Altron Nexus’s public safety, government and commercial customers”, says Andrew Condon, sales manager at Altron Nexus. “Customers will now be able to purchase advanced security and surveillance solutions as part of Altron Nexus’s portfolio of critical communications technology for commercial markets.

Avigilon’s video surveillance platform helps transform video from reactive – looking back at what has taken place – to proactive, issuing alerts in real time when a person, object or vehicle of interest is detected. This critical intelligence enables users to take the right action more quickly.

Through its broadband offerings, Altron Nexus plays a leading role in bridging the digital divide in South Africa. Recognising that access to broadband is a key enabler for socio-economic development, Altron Nexus has developed a portfolio of vendor-agnostic broadband solutions for a variety of applications that meet customer-specific requirements.

According to Deon Naidoo, Altron Nexus’s HOD Networks, digital inclusion in South Africa has to be a priority across all sectors and Altron Nexus is well positioned to make it happen.

“Our capacity to provide broadband solutions,” says Deon, “has resulted in a number of ground-breaking projects that have demonstrably made a positive impact on the ability of businesses, government, schools and communities in general to meet their communication needs.”

Altron Nexus’s key broadband offerings are:

1. Fixed Broadband (Fibre): Altron Nexus, through Altech Alcom Matomo (AAM), provides turnkey fibre broadband project capabilities, covering project management, route & site surveys, design, procurement, implementation & build, configuration & testing, as well as support & maintenance services.AAM has the skill, capability and track record to successfully deploy full fibre networks comprising CORE, AGGREGRATION and ACCESS layers as well as ODSS/BSS. Altron Nexus partners with various fibre network service providers (Layer2 and Dark Fibre) such as DFA, Liquid, BBI etc. to provide leased fibre options to our customers that are looking for low CAPEX and quick time-to-market solutions.AAM’s fixed broadband solutions comprise fibre products and services that are sourced from a variety of best of breed OEMs, distributors, approved sub-contractors and fibre network service providers.
2. Wireless Broadband:
   1. WiFi – As part of broadband wireless access, Altron Nexus offers WiFi solutions to our customers, thus ensuring effective last mile wireless access to end customers, which includes governmental organisations, schools, training &development centres, clinics etc. This ensures that the benefits of broadband reach the much needed areas of our society, thereby driving socio-economic development where it is most needed. AAM offers turnkey WiFi services, which include design, procurement, implementation & testing, and support & maintenance.  We utilise best of breed WiFi OEMs, whose solutions offer a unique value proposition, thus enabling us to give our customers customised solutions to meet their needs.
   2. Microwave – Altron Nexus provides P-t-P and P-T-MP microwave solutions for backhaul and transport requirements. Altron Nexus also has a national microwave network, which is part of the Altech Network that we are currently packaging to sell as a “Microwave as a Service” offering to our customers and partners.
   3. GSM-R – As part of GSM coverage for railways, Altron Nexus partners with Huawei to offer GSM-R networks to railway companies. GSM-R ensures that quality mobile services are able to be delivered to individuals travelling at high speeds within trains and through tunnels. Altron Nexus provides end to end services for GSM-R rollout
   4. LTE – Society and end-user applications are driving the need for higher data rates when it comes to broadband connectivity. Mobility is also another key requirement for broadband connectivity on the move, anywhere and anytime. As part of our wireless broadband offering, Altron Nexus offers LTE Solutions through partnering with best of breed OEMs in the market.

Hytera are proud to introduce the new PD485 to complement the existing PD405 and PD415 DMR handsets.

This robust and reliable handheld digital radio offers a simple communication solution with OLED screen, programmable keys and emergency button, ideal for users operating in manufacturing, facilities management or education environments.

Highlights of the new PD485 include a full-sized keypad, an OLED display, dedicated emergency button and optional Bluetooth® and GPS. This compact DMR radio offers customers versatile, professional communication possibilities at a very moderate price.

The DMR functions and Analogue migration options, effective frequency management and advanced services such as GPS location and integrated Bluetooth® make the PD485 the ideal two-way radio companion for professional users across many different industries.

Application areas for the PD485
Whether for use in shopping centres, manufacturing and logistics, or by security services for indoor and outdoor applications – thanks to its robust housing and versatile functionality, the IP54 rated device is at home in a wide range of workplaces. Weighing just 308 grams and with dimensions of 117 x 55 x 37 mm, the handheld radio is light and user friendly, ready to support you shift after shift.

Bluetooth® 4.0 and GPS
The optional integrated Bluetooth® 4.0 and GPS module enhance the user experience and communication possibilities. With the Bluetooth® interface, wireless audio accessories can be paired for covert use or improved convenience. The PD485 also supports data exchange and convenient programming via Bluetooth®. The optional integrated GPS module and the GPS antenna conveniently allow real-time positioning of subscribers using various AVL applications.

Versatile keypad
Alongside a wide range of communication options, the full-sized keypad also enables simplified programming. Settings such as the current frequency, timeslot or colour code can be quickly and easily changed via the keypad, without needing to connect the unit to CPS.

Product highlights:

• Operational Efficiency
  Select the PD485G version for GPS location-based services and in-built Bluetooth, ideal for wireless audio accessories
• Clear Communication
  Thanks to the latest audio processing technology and in-built speaker, the PD485 offers you outstanding audio quality
• Analogue or Digital
  Detects either signal and automatically switches between modes to receive on a single channel
• Instant Messaging
  Supports messaging to individuals or groups and one-touch call or messaging
• Long Battery Life
  Operating time of approximately 16 hours in digital mode

Product features

• Stun
  You can disable/enable the radio remotely, ideal if a device is lost, stolen or being misused.
• Roaming
  This feature allows the radio to switch between sites on multi-site conventional systems, ensuring seamless communication.
• Priority Interrupt
  Send a priority transmission to interrupt other calls, ideal for important, critical messages.
• Emergency Mode
  Raise an alarm with top priority to a base station or to other radios with the pre-programmed emergency mode, identifying the ID of the person issuing the alarm. Also receive emergency notifications.