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Launched this week at AfricaCom, OATS (Open Access Technical Services), a WIOCC Group company, enables carriers, operators, hyperscalers, major enterprises and governments to outsource the building, management, operation and support of their digital network and infrastructure in Africa to a company with the experience, expertise and local licenced entities to meet their requirements, allowing them to focus on their own core services.
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Commenting on this latest expansion of the WIOCC Group, Chris Wood, Group CEO of WIOCC Group, said: ”The creation of OATS is a natural extension of our client-focused philosophy of providing an integrated suite of services to enable and drive economic growth in Africa. OATS leverages the WIOCC Group’s assets, resources and expertise, both within Africa and further afield, to offer clients a range of services they can use to grow their operations how, where and when they want across the continent.”
OATS VP Jason Tutty added: “With our experience and expertise, OATS offers a multitude of technical services to meet the unique requirements of businesses in all locations, and you do not need to be an existing client of WIOCC or Open Access Data Centres.”
From network equipment logistics and managed capacity termination, to field services, dark fibre and spectrum management, and network operations centre management, organisations can now outsource any or all of these technical services to OATS.
Logistics
OATS can provide expert support for CDNs (Content Delivery Network operators) and multinationals wanting to establish or expand their footprint in Africa, including ensuring they adhere to the appropriate customs and regulatory framework requirements when importing equipment to enable them to expand into a new African country or region.
Managed subsea capacity termination
For CDNs, carriers and hyperscalers that require connectivity or fibre pairs, OATS can terminate capacity and manage the infrastructure at the Cable Landing Station (CLS), Power Feeding Equipment (PFE) hub or in a carrier-neutral data centre – irrespective of whether or not the chosen location is a WIOCC or Open Access Data Centre facility.
Managed network field services
OATS can support services such as backhaul and licence termination, as well as providing comprehensive, expert field service support covering tasks including equipment termination, racking and stacking, trouble-shooting, maintenance, compliance and auditing.
Dark fibre and spectrum management
CDNs, carriers and hyperscalers with terrestrial dark fibre management requirements can take advantage of the dark fibre economics with managed capacity expertise of OATS.
As with subsea capacity management and termination, OATS clients can host in their chosen locations, including WIOCC or Open Access Data Centre facilities.
Similarly, for providers who own a percentage share of spectrum on fibre, OATS can oversee spectrum management and provide a comprehensive solution that encompasses the design, operation and support of core infrastructure.
Managed Network and Operations Centres (NOCs)
OATS can also provide an outsourced NOC service, with 24 hours a day, seven days a week support manned by trained and qualified engineers.
