Telkom will focus its energies on training new communications technology skills to keep pace with industry demands, says acting CEO Jeffrey Hedberg.

Hedberg, speaking at Telkom’s annual Satnac conference, says Africa is a technology opportunity waiting to happen. However, he says the greatest challenge the continent faces is a lack of skills.

“If we don’t have the right people and skills we can’t deliver on commercial and technical initiatives,” he says.

According to Hedberg, the technology is available and the investments are being made in infrastructure. However, skills development is still lagging behind.

“Telkom commits to reallocating our resources to better our training and to make sure we are not just talking about things but delivering on them,” he says.

Telkom’s centre for learning trained 41 000 students in the 2010 financial year. However, Hedberg says the focus has been on the technology side.

He says the new focus will be to train its staff to fill more business-focused vacancies. — Staff reporter, TechCentral