"The ICOZA venture shows our commitment to develop Black skills in the strategically important ISP sector of the market which shows huge potential for future growth as government and private sector demand grows for internet-enabling infrastructure and support services that enable their online access and delivery of citizen and customer services." Jay Naidoo, previous Minister of Communications in the Mandela government, and now Chairman of the Development Bank of Southern Africa

ICOZA is South Africa's first independently empowered Tier 1 ISP offering a complete Range of ISP and Value Added Services to support client's connectivity and e-Business infrastructure requirements. 

As an empowerment venture of the J&J Group, and the first tier one BEE initiative in the ISP market, ICOZA (Internet Company South Africa) represents a close collaboration with South Africa's leading Internet Services Provider, Internet Solutions. 

The ICOZA joint venture between the J&J Group and Internet Solutions (IS) builds on the existing Tier 1 platform that ICOZA accesses from Internet Solutions, and extends this capacity and ISP services offering into all the sectors of South African business, and into the African market. 

"ICOZA is the only BEE Tier1 ISP in South Africa. We have our own tried and trusted infrastructure and are not riding on anyone's back. We have a rich product set and offer value added services (e-Procurement, e-Billing, Integration, Security and other services) alongside our standard ISP services offerings, with credible operational and technology partners" says CEO, Rodney de Koch. 

Since ICOZA was launched last year, and it has steadily grown its base of clients which includes, Department of Trade and Industry, First South (Credit Suisse), Striata, Perago Financial Services, Xylocom, Africa Venture Partners, Lesaka, Aptronics, Network Solutions, Solutions Dynamics, e-Freight, SensePost, Choice Technologies and others

The ICOZA joint venture was established through a shareholding between the J&J Group (51%) and Internet Solutions (49%). ICOZA will build on the existing IS2 Tier 1 platform acquired from Internet Solutions.

J&J is a strategic investment and management company founded by Jay Naidoo, the Minister of Communications in the Mandela government and now Chairman of the Development Bank of Southern Africa. Jayendra Naidoo was previously Executive Director of the National Economic, Development and Labour Council. 

Messrs Jay Naidoo and Jayendra Naidoo equally own 75% of this management holding company focusing on the information communication technology (ICT) and financial services sectors, while Old Mutual owns 25%.

IS is the premier Internet and service solution provider in South Africa. Since its inception in 1993, IS has remained at the forefront of Internet technologies, leading the local industry in all aspects of growth, development and innovation. 

IS has achieved market dominance in the provision of corporate Internet services, and is uniquely positioned to provide holistic solutions covering a wide range of services and technologies. IS operates focused business units which provide services in Hosting, Security, Access and Dial.SensePost, Choice Technologies and others.