Spescom Limited
Spescom Limited was a South African information and communications technology company that supplied enterprise communications, telecommunications, media technology, and energy-related systems.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Spescom Limited was a South African information and communications technology company founded in 1977 by Tony Farah. The business began with electronic test and measurement equipment and later expanded into communications, energy technology, enterprise systems, and media-related solutions. During its active period, Spescom was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange under the ticker SPS and developed a portfolio aimed primarily at institutional and business customers rather than consumers. The company’s activities covered several related areas of enterprise technology. Its communications operations addressed the integration of voice, video, and data, including contact-centre systems, telephony infrastructure, communications recording, and related software and services. Other operations served broadcasters, telecommunications operators, government departments, financial institutions, large corporate enterprises, and public-sector organizations. The business was organized around units including Spescom DataFusion, Spescom DataVoice, Spescom Telecommunications, and Spescom Media IT. Spescom also had an important historical connection to electricity prepayment technology. In 1990, it developed the Cashpower 2000 keypad prepayment electricity meter. The technology was licensed to meter manufacturers and later supported international deployments, including a contract in Brazil in 1993. In 1995, Spescom formed Energy Measurements, a joint venture with Siemens focused on energy management and revenue-collection systems. The company subsequently exited the energy-metering field, allowing it to concentrate more closely on communications and enterprise technology. During the 2000s, Spescom progressively refocused its portfolio. In 2007, it sold its United States enterprise-software operation, Enterprise Informatics, and redirected attention toward the convergence of voice, video, and data communications. It introduced Libra Mobile in 2008, combining mobile and fixed-line telephony recording. In 2010, Spescom partnered with NewTelco GmbH to establish NewTelco South Africa, a carrier-neutral co-location operation serving communications carriers. It also opened an office in Kampala, Uganda, supporting a broader East African presence. Spescom served major communications organizations and other institutional customers in Africa, including Telkom, Neotel, and Sentech, as well as financial-sector, public-sector, and contact-centre clients. Its footprint included offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and London, and the company employed approximately 250 people around 2009. In 2012, Johannesburg-based IT, communications, and energy company Jasco acquired Spescom. Following that transaction, Spescom no longer operated as an independent listed company and is treated as a defunct standalone corporate brand.
History
Spescom Limited was established in South Africa in 1977 by Tony Farah. Its initial business involved electronic test and measurement equipment, but the company broadened its scope during the 1980s and 1990s as demand grew for communications and energy-related technologies. This transition made Spescom an enterprise-oriented technology supplier rather than a narrowly specialized equipment distributor. One of the company’s significant technology developments was the Cashpower 2000, a keypad-based prepayment electricity meter developed in September 1990. The design was licensed to meter manufacturers internationally. Spescom later secured a prepayment-meter contract in Brazil in 1993, and related meters were subsequently sold in more than thirty-five countries. On 6 March 1995, Spescom and Siemens formed Energy Measurements, a joint venture intended to develop energy-management and revenue-collection systems, particularly for prepayment electricity metering. Spescom eventually withdrew from this market. As its portfolio evolved, Spescom concentrated increasingly on business communications. Its activities were organized into divisions known as Spescom DataFusion, Spescom DataVoice, Spescom Telecommunications, and Spescom Media IT. These units addressed voice, video, and data integration; contact-centre systems; telecommunications infrastructure; recording systems; broadcasting and media technology; and associated enterprise services. The company maintained offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and London and operated across South Africa, other Sub-Saharan African markets, parts of Europe, and the Middle East. The group undertook a strategic rationalization during the 2000s. In 2007, it sold its United States operation Enterprise Informatics, thereby leaving the enterprise-software sector and emphasizing communications convergence. In 2008, it launched Libra Mobile, which combined mobile and fixed-line telephony recording. These moves reflected a broader effort to align the business with institutional communications requirements and the growing overlap among voice, video, data, and compliance technologies. Spescom continued its regional expansion in 2010. It established NewTelco South Africa with NewTelco GmbH as a carrier-neutral co-location provider for domestic, regional, and international carriers. It also opened a Kampala office to support entry into East Africa. The company supplied services to large communications organizations including Telkom, Neotel, and Sentech, while also serving financial institutions, government and other public-sector bodies, corporate enterprises, and contact centres. Around 2009, its workforce was reported at approximately 250 employees. In 2012, Jasco acquired Spescom. The transaction brought Spescom’s communications and technology activities into a larger South African IT, communications, and energy group. After the acquisition, Spescom ceased to function as an independent listed company, and its historical identity is best understood as a former South African ICT corporate brand.
- 2012
Jasco acquisition
[1]Jasco acquired Spescom, ending its operation as an independent listed company.
- 2010
NewTelco South Africa is established
[1]Spescom and NewTelco GmbH created a South African carrier-neutral co-location provider.
- 2008
Libra Mobile launches
[1]Spescom introduced Libra Mobile, a mobile and fixed-line telephony recording system.
- 2007
Enterprise Informatics is sold
[1]Spescom sold its United States enterprise-software operation and refocused on communications technology.
- 1995
Energy Measurements joint venture
[1]Spescom formed Energy Measurements with Siemens to develop energy-management and revenue-collection systems.
- 1993
Brazilian prepayment-meter contract
[1]Spescom secured an international contract for prepayment electricity meters in Brazil.
- 1990
Cashpower 2000 is developed
[1]Spescom developed the Cashpower 2000 keypad prepayment electricity meter, which was later licensed internationally.
- 1977
Spescom is founded
[1]Tony Farah founded Spescom in South Africa. The company initially focused on electronic test and measurement equipment.
Products and positioning
A business-to-business African ICT provider focused on integrated communications, telecommunications infrastructure, media technology, contact centres, and institutional technology services.
Electricity prepayment meter · 1990
Cashpower 2000
A keypad-based prepayment electricity meter developed by Spescom in 1990. The technology was licensed to meter manufacturers and supported international deployments, including a Brazilian contract. Related meters were reported to have reached more than thirty-five countries. Spescom later exited the energy-metering market.
Telephony recording system · 2008
Libra Mobile
A communications recording system introduced in 2008 that combined recording for mobile and fixed-line telephony. It represented Spescom’s focus on integrated enterprise communications and institutional monitoring requirements.
Enterprise communications
Spescom DataFusion
A Spescom business division associated with integrated voice, video, and data communications solutions for enterprise and institutional customers.
Voice and data communications
Spescom DataVoice
A business unit focused on voice and data communications technologies, including solutions for corporate, public-sector, and contact-centre environments.
Telecommunications infrastructure
Spescom Telecommunications
A division providing telecommunications infrastructure and related services to communications operators and other large institutional customers.
Broadcast and media technology
Spescom Media IT
A business division serving media and broadcasting requirements with information-technology and communications solutions.
Brand decisions
2012
Sale to JascoM&ABackground
Spescom was operating as a South African ICT and communications provider with regional activities.
Action taken
Jasco acquired Spescom.
Aftermath
Spescom ceased to operate as an independent listed company and became part of Jasco’s broader IT, communications, and energy activities.
2010
Expand carrier infrastructure and East African coverageStrategyBackground
Spescom pursued opportunities in carrier infrastructure and regional communications services.
Action taken
It established NewTelco South Africa with NewTelco GmbH and opened an office in Kampala, Uganda.
Aftermath
The initiatives strengthened the company’s presence in carrier-neutral co-location and East African communications markets.
2007
Refocus on communications convergenceStrategyBackground
Spescom sought to concentrate its portfolio on the convergence of voice, video, and data communications.
Action taken
The company sold its United States enterprise-software operation, Enterprise Informatics, and exited that sector.
Aftermath
The divestment supported a narrower strategic emphasis on communications and enterprise technology services.
Recent events
- 2012
Jasco acquires Spescom[1]
M&A
Johannesburg-based IT, communications, and energy company Jasco acquired Spescom, ending the company’s existence as an independent listed business.
- 2010
Spescom establishes NewTelco South Africa[1]
M&A
Spescom partnered with NewTelco GmbH to establish NewTelco South Africa, a carrier-neutral co-location provider for local, regional, and international telecommunications carriers.
- 2010
Spescom expands into East Africa[1]
Other
The company opened an office in Kampala, Uganda, to support its expansion and customer coverage in East Africa.
- 2008
Spescom introduces Libra Mobile[1]
Product launch
The company introduced Libra Mobile, a system designed to combine recording capabilities for mobile and fixed-line telephony.
- 2007
Spescom sells Enterprise Informatics operation[1]
M&A
Spescom exited the enterprise-software sector by selling its United States operation, Enterprise Informatics, as part of a strategic refocus on communications and the convergence of voice, video, and data.
Sources1 sources
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