A Blackpool based software company has successfully secured a substantial contract to provide wireless based broadband into remote parts of South Africa.

Azotel, which specialises in equipping broadband Internet Service Providers with the technology and management services required to build out broadband networks anywhere in the world, travelled to Johannesburg as part of Ireland's largest ever trade mission to South Africa.

The software providers will team up with Motorola as part of the South African deal, having previously broken into markets in Norway and Nigeria. Azotel were joined by over thirty Irish companies, including fellow Cork businesses LeT Systems, Audit Diagnostics and Glenmar Shellfish, on the trade mission which was led by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin.

The Minister praised the efforts of all the companies involved and indicated a bright future lay ahead for Irish businesses abroad. "A number of Cork firms have with the support of Enterprise Ireland, which organised the mission, secured major partnerships with South African firms to break into a region which has a population of 185 million people.

"It is clear Cork based small and medium sized companies with the support of Enterprise Ireland have a level of expertise which is in demand in many global markets and this mission was an important effort to break them into the Southern African region. Azotel is a perfect example where Cork based expertise can be used to meet the challenges in Africa while at the same time protecting jobs at home.

Other Cork firms on the mission included Carrigtwohill based Audit Diagnostics and Glenmar Shellfish of Skibbereen which is taking produce from South Africa to be sold across Europe. Both firms have made links now which allow them to expand their business in South Africa.

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