Q-KON, an established provider of managed satellite services and a distributor of niche products to the growing African telecommunications market, has hosted the first UX-series certified training on the continent. The UX product series is a Microsoft Lync certified Survivable Branch Appliance originally manufactured by NET (Network Equipment Technologies).
NET was recently acquired by Sonus, a global leader in SIP communications, which resulted in an expansion of the Sonus portfolio of Session Border Controller (SBC) solutions within the enterprise market. Sonus now offers four of the seven Lync certified SBCs.
Sonus has traditionally focused on the very high-end SBC market sector – incorporating carriers and large SIP providers. Its acquisition of NET boosts the company’s prominence within the enterprise market.
Q-KON SA, a Sonus Select Partner and previously a Gold Distributor of NET, has been at the forefront of the local adoption of the NET products like the UX2000 and the UX1000 since 2002.
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The UX1000 is used for Microsoft Lync 2010 deployments. It is custom-built to address the unified communications requirements within small-to-medium operations and delivers a combination of networking, gateway, SIP Trunking and survivability/ business continuity features.
At the other end of the spectrum is the UX2000, designed for high-end enterprise applications. It has a much higher port count and processing capacity, addressing much larger enterprises.
“Effective training is critical to the sustainability of this specialised area of technology, most notably to prove the value of an investment in this offering to resellers,” explains
“From an African and South African point of view, it is important in terms of cost, practicality, and convenience. If you require the services of an overseas trainer on a continuous basis to provide certified training, you need the participation of a sufficient number of delegates for it to be successful. Online certification is a way to get around this issue, but engineers who do not have extensive UX knowledge will not pass the exam. Instructor-led training is required to ensure that both online and hands-on exams are effective,” de Wet explains.
Earlier this year Q-KON SA established a fully equipped training facility, the first of its kind outside the UK and US. This facility is houses the latest infrastructure to thoroughly test the knowledge of engineers that will provide service and support to the niche UX environment.
The facility is used to simulate an environment and this offers delegates an opportunity to learn, simulate and test their knowledge – and then be certified.
The recent training session, the first in Africa, was led by Q-KON SA’s product manager for the Sonus products, Dirk Matthysen.
Matthysen received his certification as trainer earlier this year during a training course in the UK. He explains why this training adds depth to the market’s existing skills pool.
“We have now introduced an “attendance certificate” and a “certification certificate”, which implies the stringent nature of the training and the need for practical understanding and application of skills. A trained, certified individual is better for a company and the industry in helping to enrich the skills pool,” says Matthysen.
“The more people get trained and qualified, the better for a reseller or system integrator because they can offer more services in-house.”
Q-KON is a 1st tier satellite network provider, turn-key telecommunication solution provider and the distributor of the NET and Xiplink product ranges.
For more than 20 years, Q-KON has followed successful strategies to establish advance technologies in challenging environments and to unlock real business benefits for our customers and partners. Effectively integrating its commanding capability in niche, wireless and satellite technologies with an intuitive understanding and appreciation of the African market, Q-KON has conquered many business impossibilities.
Since its inception Q-KON has distinguished itself in providing solutions and services supported by long term relationships and continued value add. Today Q-KON can proudly look back at 24 years of engineering achievements throughout Africa underwritten by sound business practices and long-term ethical relationships. Q-KON serves the South African market through Q-KON SA, a subsidiary based in Gauteng, and the rest-of-Africa market through its Q-KON Africa subsidiary.
