AIC Technologies, Inc. (AIC) having participated in a Telecommunications Trade and Investment mission launched internationally into the Sub-Saharan Africa IT market. This multi-faceted effort culminated into trade deals with Mobitel Nigeria- launched Gold Button national and international calling card platform; UCSI (USA)-Provision of broadband pilot network in Ghana delivering voice, video and data services over fiber between Accra, Kumasi and Tema ; Unilever Ghana, Ltd. a multi National publicly traded company and SSB Bank with national branch locations . These deals in Ghana and Nigeria were leveraged by formal relationships with Nortel Networks (Avaya) and Saab Grintek (AIC Channel Partner for Sub-Saharan Africa).
AIC Technologies, Inc. a Chicago (USA) rooted company that was incorporated in 1997 as a Telecommunications and IT Network Technology company. The company specializes in the provision of networking solutions and services. AIC invested resources into marketing, prospect development and special projects that led to the incorporation of AIC Technologies, Ghana Ltd. in June of 2000.
The end result empowered AIC to respond dynamically to diverse new ventures in the Sub-Saharan IT market. The need in this market called for an integrated point of responsibility matched with on-line and on-site product support. The transitioning of Africa’s information technology requirements propagated our market niche of adding “voice” as an additional application of what was originally envisaged as a data network to increase control and savings on the recurrent cost of voice service from an outside carrier.
To this end AIC secured its first contract in Nigeria for the provision of a national and international calling card platform (Gold Button) in March of 2000 and Ghana in partnership with UCSI to provide “voice” solutions to Ghananet broadband network. AIC secured its first contract in October of 2001 with Unilever Ghana Limited to implement a world class Converged Technology Solution featuring the Nortel Networks Meridian 1 System. This system provides voice messaging, computer telephony integration, voice networking, mobility solutions, auto attendant and call center applications. Our team consisted of the collaborative efforts of AIC, Nortel Networks and Saab-Grintek Telecom.
AIC secured its second contract for Ghana in November 2001 with SSB Bank Ghana for $400k. AIC purchased equipment and provided implementation of a Nortel Networks PBX with call center application and a Periphonics Interactive Voice Response (IVR) solution. This is a full-blown call center for SSB, Ghana’s fasted growing and 2nd largest bank.
AIC was selected as the vendor of choice to provide a TOTAL VOICE NETWORK SOLUTION for all bank locations, this project is expected to be budgeted for 2003 and is estimated at $300k.
Team Illinois Africa has been instrumental in advancing AICs efforts by facilitating in-country linkages in Ghana identified by the Business Development Representative, support from the State of Illinois South Africa office in identifying financing resources along with business development and marketing support from the Illinois Trade Office/ Africa Business Center U.S. representatives.
AIC Technologies expansion efforts enhanced job retention in the Illinois market and job creation in the Africa IT market.