BringCom is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, and as we celebrate this milestone, we reflected on our journey to becoming a leading communications solutions provider in Africa. Our vision to provide solutions for a connected Africa has spanned over two decades, and we wanted to commemorate this achievement by sharing our story from the beginning, with our CEO and Founder, Fabrice Langreney.
In this fourth installment of BringCom’s 20th Anniversary blog series, we reflect on the past five years, a period marked by growth, adaptation, and innovation in a rapidly changing landscape. Despite the challenges of the global COVID-19 pandemic, BringCom focused on strengthening partnerships and expanding its services across Africa, including new fiber and satellite solutions in West Africa. The introduction of Versa SD-WAN services in East Africa and the first edge cloud computing platform in Uganda highlights how technology and innovation have played a pivotal role in meeting evolving customer needs. As we look back, we also consider the lessons learned and the importance of timing, adaptability, and delivering reliable, high-quality services—principles that continue to guide BringCom’s path forward.
What has been your most significant achievement in the past five years?
BringCom’s revenue increased by 75% during the challenging global COVID-19 pandemic. The company successfully adapted to the evolving landscape by implementing internal adjustments to meet new working requirements and collaborating effectively with its partners across Africa. These strategic measures were also successfully adopted by BringCom’s subsidiary in Uganda.
Additionally, BringCom expanded its service offerings in West Africa, providing customers with enhanced fiber and satellite solutions (Project Management in Africa Featured Solutions | BringCom). The company’s groundwork in Niger, initiated in 2018, yielded significant results in the following years, securing the majority of U.S. Government tenders for telecommunications services in-country.
Niger Fiber Installation
How has the company’s long-term vision evolved over the past 20 years?
BringCom’s long-term vision has evolved from focusing solely on providing services to domestic customers in Africa to catering to international clients entering the continent. Over the years, the company has placed an increasing emphasis on delivering high-quality services, driven by the growing demand from clients demanding high SLA standards.
What role did innovation play in the company’s success in the past five years, and how did you foster it?
Innovation is essential to maintaining a competitive edge. Over the past five years, the emergence of Software Defined Networks (SDN) has created new opportunities in the market. BringCom has been at the forefront of these advancements, becoming one of the first companies to deploy Versa SD-WAN services in East Africa. Additionally, the company installed the first edge cloud computing platform in Uganda.
Edge Cloud Computing Platform Installation in Uganda
How did external factors like market trends or global events (e.g., the pandemic) shape your decision-making and strategy?
External factors, such as market trends and global events, have played a significant role in shaping our decision-making and strategy. Operating in Africa for the past 20 years has equipped us with the resilience and adaptability needed to address these challenges effectively. During this period, we have navigated significant regulatory changes and even a coup in one of the countries we operate in.
The COVID-19 pandemic further tested our adaptability, compelling us to embrace new ways of working. As a small and agile organization, we were able to pivot quickly, enabling us to navigate these complex situations successfully and continue delivering value to our clients.
What industry trends have had the most significant influence on your company’s strategy?
Mostly the development of Software-Defined Network (SDN) services which support the development of cloud services on the continent.
Looking back, what would you do differently if you had to restart?
Probably start with a smaller portfolio of services to market in order to remain focused and adjust the timing for the development of some of our services. With regard to timing, we sometimes jump to conclusion that a new product or service is ready for implementation in Africa because it is already successfully deployed in Europe, US or Asia. The experience shows it often takes more time for these products and services to be adopted by the market in Africa and it is part of an ecosystem that is being built. Therefore, timing of these investments is a critical item to consider.
How are you preparing the company for the future, especially in terms of technology and innovation?
We are actively advancing the development of SDN/AI services within the company while positioning ourselves to secure additional certifications to better support U.S. Government projects. Furthermore, we are exploring new geographical regions for potential expansion in the coming years, aligning with our strategic growth objectives.
What have you learned in the past five years that you believe will most significantly impact the future direction of the company, in contrast to insights from the earlier 20 years?
Over the last five years, we have recognized the strong demand for high-quality telecommunications services in Africa—a niche we are committed to continuing to serve. Both BringCom and Datanet customers value the exceptional service and customer support they receive from our organizations.
There is nothing more gratifying than hearing from a customer who expresses satisfaction with our quality of service and notes they rarely need to reach out because everything works seamlessly. Our engineering and operations teams are second to none, and I take immense pride in their outstanding track record over the past 20 years.