Telkom has issued a challenge to South African organisations and individuals, including universities and start-ups, to help it develop “innovations” that help stimulate broadband penetration and social development.
It wants research institutions, universities, nonprofit organisations, small and medium business, start-ups and individuals to submit entries into what it’s calling the “Open Innovation Mega Challenge”.
Telkom says the challenge is based on a theme of “products for the future that will stimulate and drive broadband growth”.
“The focus areas include, but are not limited to, convergence, cloud solutions, vertical segment solutions, machine-to-machine solutions, as well as smart buildings and smart cities,” the company says. “Entries are judged on their innovation, feasibility, commercial viability and market appeal, and must directly benefit economic growth and social development and also stimulate broadband penetration.”
Telkom intends offering R200 000 worth of cash prizes as well as high-speed Internet access. First prize will be awarded R120 000 and a free, uncapped 40Mbit/s broadband digital subscriber line (DSL) service for 24 months (where available), along with a modem.
Second prize is R50 000 and free, uncapped 10Mbit/s DSL service and modem for 24 months. Third prize is R30 000 and 10Mbit/s uncapped broadband.
Closing date for submissions is 30 November and winners will be announced at the end of March 2014, Telkom says.
“We are keenly aware that in an environment of hyper competition, competitive advantage is linked to intangible resources that are rare and difficult to imitate. The most valuable of these is the ability to innovate. The Mega Challenge forms part of this corporate imperative,” says Telkom managing executive Steve Lewis in a statement. — (c) 2013 NewsCentral Media