Telcos need to innovate and engage in infrastructure-sharing models in order to provide cost-effective Internet connectivity.

The re-branded company plans to strengthen its African footprint, recruit more staff and sign up new partners.

IBM plans to roll out more than 100 branches in its growth markets territories this year.

Softline VIP started building its comprehensive African partner network in February 2010 in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi, and has since expanded to include 11 African countries, with further development into Angola, Mozambique and Ghana on the cards.