How the cloud and VoIP have changed how people work
VoIP has become way more than just simple voice calling.
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About us
If there is a better way of doing things, we'll find it! Connection Telecom was started in 2004 by visionaries who wanted to shake up the way business telephony is done. We challenge the incumbent operators' artificially high voice prices by dynamically seeking the least cost route between mobile (GSM), fixed line voice (PSTN) and the Internet Protocol.
Our team has impressive credentials in IP technology development, traditional and cloud communications, and proven business success in our industry. As pioneers in IP PBX, our mission is to free businesses from high costs and vendor lock-ins: to truly enable communication without constraints.
David is a qualified Chartered Accountant who holds a masters degree in Business Management from the University of Johannesburg. He has been a key Internet business player from the start, serving as FD, Commercial Director and CEO of UUNET SA, the first commercial ISP in South Africa in 1996. After serving as COO of software development company Korbitec Holdings, David became chairman of Connectnet and Connection Telecom. From January 2010 he took up an operational role in the business to support its rapid growth phase.
As one of the founders and pioneers of the commercial Internet industry in South Africa, Stephen has an exceptional understanding of technology and its ability to solve real-world business challenges. With experience in developed and developing markets, he has been both a user of and key contributor to open-source projects. These have included the Linux kernel, audio/video applications (Mplayer, MythTV), and the Asterisk PBX and VoIP switch.
Co-founding Connection Telecom in 2003, Rob Lith is an ICT industry heavyweight and Internet specialist who has been involved in the industry for the last 20 years. His lifelong interest in technology has contributed to his in-depth knowledge of Internet markets, technology and products. Rob and Stephen Davies have long been collaborators, since their days at Internet Africa, which became UUNET, then WorldCom and now Verizon.
Fresh Botha brings more than a decade of experience in the IT/telecomms industry to Connection Telecom. She has worked on a variety of projects from large customer network deployments to infrastructure and core network projects.
With a BA in Political Sciences from RAU and a PM Diploma from Damelin under her belt, Fresh has also recently qualified as a PrinceII Practitioner, ITILv3, and also holds Cisco CSE certification.
While working in the commerce department of the Italian Trade Commission, Fresh helped set up the first branch of Banca di Roma in South Africa. She then enjoyed a short stint as a web developer before joining UUNET in 1999 as a customer deployment, infrastructure and network deloyment project manager. After spending a year with Siemens Business Services, Fresh moved back to UUNET until March 2011.
Fresh is passionate about customer service and her industry and enjoys working with a highly skilled and respected team. She believes that when it comes to IT and telecoms strategy and delivery, best results are achieved when Connection Telecom contributes as part of the customer's team.
Our team has impressive credentials in IP technology development, traditional and cloud communications, and proven business success in our industry. As pioneers in IP PBX, our mission is to free businesses from high costs and vendor lock-ins: to truly enable communication without constraints.
Our executive management team:
David Meintjes
David is a qualified Chartered Accountant who holds a masters degree in Business Management from the University of Johannesburg. He has been a key Internet business player from the start, serving as FD, Commercial Director and CEO of UUNET SA, the first commercial ISP in South Africa in 1996. After serving as COO of software development company Korbitec Holdings, David became chairman of Connectnet and Connection Telecom. From January 2010 he took up an operational role in the business to support its rapid growth phase.
Stephen Davies
As one of the founders and pioneers of the commercial Internet industry in South Africa, Stephen has an exceptional understanding of technology and its ability to solve real-world business challenges. With experience in developed and developing markets, he has been both a user of and key contributor to open-source projects. These have included the Linux kernel, audio/video applications (Mplayer, MythTV), and the Asterisk PBX and VoIP switch.
Rob Lith
Co-founding Connection Telecom in 2003, Rob Lith is an ICT industry heavyweight and Internet specialist who has been involved in the industry for the last 20 years. His lifelong interest in technology has contributed to his in-depth knowledge of Internet markets, technology and products. Rob and Stephen Davies have long been collaborators, since their days at Internet Africa, which became UUNET, then WorldCom and now Verizon.
Alun Davies
After some time consulting to Connection Telecom, Alan was attracted on board as a full time member of the team. His career began in non-profit sector project management and further studies in project management and psychology added a new dimension to his previous degree in practical and pastoral theology. When presented with an opportunity to transfer his skills into the business sector, Alan took it. He has a passion for working with clients and helping them discover the possibilities that new technologies can open for them in the way they do business.
Fresh Botha
Fresh Botha brings more than a decade of experience in the IT/telecomms industry to Connection Telecom. She has worked on a variety of projects from large customer network deployments to infrastructure and core network projects.With a BA in Political Sciences from RAU and a PM Diploma from Damelin under her belt, Fresh has also recently qualified as a PrinceII Practitioner, ITILv3, and also holds Cisco CSE certification.
While working in the commerce department of the Italian Trade Commission, Fresh helped set up the first branch of Banca di Roma in South Africa. She then enjoyed a short stint as a web developer before joining UUNET in 1999 as a customer deployment, infrastructure and network deloyment project manager. After spending a year with Siemens Business Services, Fresh moved back to UUNET until March 2011.
Fresh is passionate about customer service and her industry and enjoys working with a highly skilled and respected team. She believes that when it comes to IT and telecoms strategy and delivery, best results are achieved when Connection Telecom contributes as part of the customer's team.
Chris Bothma
Chris Bothma brings more than 30 years of experience in the IT/telecomms industry to Connection Telecom. He started his career with what was then the Department of Post and Telecommunications, and contributed greatly to its evolution to the Telkom SA we know today.
Chris holds an MBA from Bond University Australia, an NHD Post School Education, and an NHD Technical Light Current. He’s also completed numerous worldwide certifications – some of which are from Cisco, Marconi UK and MAST.
Chris has many career achievements: he developed the first Diginet curriculum in SA; he developed the first LAN and integrated WAN curriculum for Telkom in 1992; he helped to grow Telkom’s Training and Development business by R16 million in just two years – and then moved on to managing bigger Telkom business accounts of R30 million plus annually.
Chris loves helping people make their businesses run smoothly with products that work, without breaking the bank. He enjoys working with Connection Telecom’s highly skilled team, bringing the best solutions to customers.
Chris Bothma brings more than 30 years of experience in the IT/telecomms industry to Connection Telecom. He started his career with what was then the Department of Post and Telecommunications, and contributed greatly to its evolution to the Telkom SA we know today.
Chris holds an MBA from Bond University Australia, an NHD Post School Education, and an NHD Technical Light Current. He’s also completed numerous worldwide certifications – some of which are from Cisco, Marconi UK and MAST.
Chris has many career achievements: he developed the first Diginet curriculum in SA; he developed the first LAN and integrated WAN curriculum for Telkom in 1992; he helped to grow Telkom’s Training and Development business by R16 million in just two years – and then moved on to managing bigger Telkom business accounts of R30 million plus annually.
Chris loves helping people make their businesses run smoothly with products that work, without breaking the bank. He enjoys working with Connection Telecom’s highly skilled team, bringing the best solutions to customers.
Stakeholders:
Non-executive
Jacob du Toit (Chairman), Jonathan Broll, Goltz Wessman.Executive
David Meintjes (Managing), Rob Lith, Stephen Davies.
Accredited reseller:
ISPA membership and compliance:
iCode compliant
As a member of ISPA, Connection Telecom is compliant with iCode - supporting a new best practice to help protect our customers from malicious VoIP or fraudulent abuse.
BBBEE:
Connection Telecom ® is a level 2 contributor to the codes of good practice.
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