GLOBAL telecommunications firm Ericsson has invested more than R100 million in new headquarters in Johannesburg IT business hub, Woodmead.
Newly appointed MD for SA Jan Embro said on Thursday the investment comes shortly after Ericsson appointment of SA as a regional service hub for sub-Saharan Africa - a move which will see the company spending millions of rands building competence and developing custom telecommunications solutions-for the continent.
The move is expected to add fresh impetus to Ericsson's ongoing expansion into Africa, which has seen the company roll out 10 GSM networks on the continent so far.
'This level of investment simply reaffirms the confidence we have in SA as a country.
'We're putting down roots for the future, and this is going to be the base from which we continue our rapid growth--and take advantage of the massive opportunities for telecoms operators that exist on the African continent,' said Embro.
The building, which contradicts rumours that the company was planning to downsize its local operations, will house the company's entire business, with the exception of the warehouse, which will remain in Midrand for the time being.
'The coming year will be a pivotal one for mobile Internet access and mobile e-commerce, with a flurry of activity from technology and telecoms providers creating content and applications,' said Embro. - I-Net Bridge