Our history

2011 sees the Group celebrating its 25th anniversary, read about our history.

1986
Datatec was founded in 1986 as a distributor of networking access and communications solutions.  The Group comprised two separate business divisions:  Datatec Networking and Communications and POStec.  Jens Montanana was the founder and chief architect behind Datatec.

1995
Datatec was successfully listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and raised R9 million by way of an initial public offering.  The listing placed the group in a strong position to take advantage of the expanding data communications and networking market.  Revenues and profits grew significantly in the first reporting period.  A third business division called PIPEX SA was formed in the same year.

1996
UUNET Internet Africa was established as a joint venture between Datatec and UUNET Technologies offering extensive national and international access to the Internet as well as specialised design and support services.

1997
The year saw Datatec expand internationally.  Datatec UK was established as a focused Internet technology and networking solutions value-added distributor in the wake of the acquisition of a number of distribution businesses in the UK.  The acquisition of Logical Networks enabled the Group to provide the full scope of network integration services to blue chip companies in the UK and Europe.

1998
The acquisition of US distributor Westcon Inc. saw the consolidation of Datatec’s distribution businesses on five continents under the Westcon brand.  The Group successfully achieved the transition from a regional player to a truly international operation. 

1999
The acquisition of the Manchester-based Mason Communications, a strategic telecommunications consultancy, saw the Group fulfil its strategy of providing networking-based products and services to organisations across the full spectrum of the IT supply chain.

2001
Datatec sold its 76% stake in UUNET SA to WorldCom for over $140 million.  The Group made significant advances in its strategy to divest and realign those South African investments and businesses that were no longer core or synergistic in nature.

2004
UK-based subsidiary, Logicalis, sold its Australian and New Zealand operations to IBM for US$66-million.  The sale came after an unsolicited offer from IBM.

2005
Logicalis made three strategic acquisitions, all aimed at enhancing the company’s position as a strategic IBM partner in the US and UK.  Analysys Mason Group was formed out of the merger of the Mason Group and Analysys Consulting and Research expanding the Group’s global footprint and positioning it to take advantage of the burgeoning growth in mobile telephony.

2006
The group celebrates its 20th anniversary and reports record revenue figures.  Datatec declares a maiden distribution of 30 South African cents a share.  

2007
The Group made a successful debut on AIM in London in October 2006 and since admission has grown to a market capitalisation of approximately $1 billion becoming the largest technology stock on the AIM market.  Datatec concludes its BEE transaction with African Legend Technologies.  Logicalis makes a further three acquisitions, Alliance Consulting, Computech Resources and CSF Solutions.  Westcon Group becomes the world's largest distributor of Nortel products by adding the distribution operations of Ronco in the US.

2008
Westcon completes four acquisitions NOXS, Crane, ReView Video and Cernet which opens up new opportunities in convergence, security and mobility in Europe, the US and Latin America.  Westcon African Middle East acquired 51% stake in Parnoon-Dynatech expanding its African footprint to seven African countries.  Logicalis US acquired Carotek, a leading HP enterprise systems partner.  Logicalis was awarded a US$150 million contract to operate public sector broadband aggregation service for Welsh Assembly.

2009
Logicalis merges its existing South American operations with those of Promon Tecnologia in Brazil transforming Logicalis into the largest network integrator in South America. Datatec acquires a 50.01% stake in Inflow Technologies, an Indian value-added distributor with a footprint in nine key Indian cities including operations in Sri Lanka and Singapore. Both acquisitions are important steps in the Group’s international strategy to increase its exposure to the world’s major emerging and developing markets.

2010
Westcon Group signs a global distribution agreement with Cisco, a partnership that increases both organisations’ ability to develop new market opportunities, particularly in emerging markets. Westcon acquires Datastor, a New Zealand ICT distribution business. Logicalis acquires Minters GmbH, a German Cisco Systems Partner as well as NetStar, a leading network infrastructure solutions and managed services provider in the Asia-Pacific region with offices in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China.

2011
Datatec continues to grows its emerging market presence by acquiring businesses in India, Singapore and South Africa.  Logicalis makes four acquisiitons including Inca Software and Direct Visual in the UK, Network Infrastructure Corporation in the US and Touchbase in Singapore.  Datatec announces that the Mineworkers Investment Company has become the new BEE partner for Westcon SA. The group celebrates its 25th anniversary.