History and Milestones

Dimension Data was founded in 1983 in South Africa and today operates in nearly 40 countries on six continents. Our growth has been driven by our clients’ need to operate efficiently in an environment where collaborative partnerships and the intelligent network have emerged as the two most important business enablers. Our rich heritage in networking and innate understanding of network-related technologies differentiate us from our competitors, and our growth is achieved by consistently striving to exceed our clients’ expectations.

Our vision is to be world leaders in the provision and management of specialist IT infrastructure solutions that help our clients achieve their business goals. Who we are today is very much the result of where we have come from and our business experiences along the way. You can gain greater insight into our business and growth from this snapshot of our history and milestones.

The evolution of Dimension Data spans more than 20 years. What started as a small, local company founded by a small circle of people, has evolved into a world-class organisation delivering advanced solutions to premium clients and employing over 10 600 people across the globe.

1983 – 1994
In 1983, with a simple vision of ‘wanting to do great things’, three young, ambitious South African men left the comfort of salaried jobs to start their own business. This was the start of the Dimension Data story. The first decade of the company’s history was characterised by strong domestic growth as Dimension Data became a homegrown success story in the South African and African markets. Dimension Data established a formidable reputation as an industry leader in network technology. This domain expertise was to inform all our related lines of business.

1983

Dimension Data founded

1987

Jeremy Ord appointed Chairman
Listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange at 150 cents a share

1993

Dimension Data Botswana founded

1994

Dimension Data South Africa becomes a Cisco Gold Partner, one of the first six outside of the US.
Chernikeeff (later became DDUK) also named a Cisco Gold Partner
Expansion into Software and Services sectors

1995 – 1997
In this period, Dimension Data cast its net outside the African continent and focused on expansion in the Asia Pacific region. Our technologies continued to evolve to provide cutting-edge solutions and enable our clients to achieve their business goals.

1996

Acquisition of 25% of Internet Solutions
International expansion strategy with acquisition of 45% of Com Tech, Australia

1997

Acquisition of 77% of The Merchant Group, a UK company
Increased acquisition in Com Tech (Australia) from 45 to 65%
Acquisition of Datacraft Limited (Australia)
Acquisition of 51% in Singapore-listed Datacraft Asia via the purchase of Datacraft Limited
Acquisition of majority share in Internet Solutions
Dimension Data Interactive formed as part of the development of the Group's customer management focus

1998 – 2000
Pursuing an aggressive global strategy, Dimension Data focused its attention on expansion into the Northern hemisphere. We secured a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange, and key acquisitions gave us a foothold in new markets in the UK, North America and Europe.

1998

Acquisition of Plessey and establishes new telecommunications company, in a joint venture with WorldWide African Investment Holdings
Acquisition of TCO, a Microsoft-focused IT outsourcing company

1999

Acquisition of 85.7% of GK Communications Ltd., a leading UK voice and data integration company
Acquisition of 49.9% of Chernikeeff Networks Ltd, leading UK network integrator
Acquisition of the Comparex Holdings' European networking businesses, in a ZAR8.1 billion deal, making Dimension Data the world's largest independent networking services company at the time
Acquisition of 70% of RE/COM Group, a New Jersey-based independent network integration company, for US$40-million
Won 7 of the 30 awards at 1999 First National Bank Most Admired IT Company Awards for leadership in service and innovation. (Africa)

2000

Dimension Data lists on the London Stock Exchange
Dimension Data launches its unique and globally standardised Managed Services offerings, using its proprietary Global Services Operating Architecture, providing customers with 24x7 remote network monitoring and maintenance services. Portal based visibility of the service allows customers real time, on-line access and comprehensive reporting capabilities provide decision making information around the clock.
Dimension Data becomes one of the first network and e-business services companies to achieve Cisco Gold Partner Certifications on five continents.
Acquisition of Netpartner AG, a leading Zurich-based network integration company, by Dimension Data Switzerland
Acquisition of TimeBridge Technologies Inc, a leading Maryland-based network services and e-Business solutions provider for US$135 million in cash
Acquisition of Data Comm Systems Inc., a US network integration company
Acquisition of Integrated Systems Group, a New York-based network integration company, for US$70-million
Acquisition of the outstanding 50.01% of UK-based Chernikeeff for GBP200 million
Acquisition of the outstanding 24% interest in Dimension Data's Australian subsidiary, Com Tech Communications (Pty) Ltd. for approximately US$146 million

2001 – 2007
Dimension Data drew on its diversity and resources to weather the IT industry slump of the early 2000s. Our Annual Results of the past three years indicate a strong, sustainable upward trend in growth and profits as we focus on executing our vision of becoming world leaders in the provision and management of specialist IT infrastructure solutions. We are facing an exciting time of opportunity and growth as we advance into the new financial year.

2001

Acquisition of Planet CTI SA, a leading computer telephony integration company based in Brussels, Belgium
Dimension Data Holdings plc acquired 100% of the equity in In Time Netbuilding BV, a leading network and voice integration company headquartered in Amsterdam.
Acquisition of Matrix Networking Group, a network integration company based in Charlotte, North Carolina
Acquisition of Premier Systems Integrators, a leading Charlotte, North Carolina-based systems integration firm

2003

Revenues exceed US$2 billion

2004

Black Economic Empowerment consortium makes a 25,01% equity purchase in Dimension Data South Africa
Brett Dawson appointed Group CEO
David Sherriffs appointed Group CFO

2005

Dimension Data Nigeria launched, with 51% shareholding acquisition in ROE
Dimension Data South Africa increases shareholding in Internet Solutions to 80%
Dimension Data signs first contract in Middle-East (Saudi Arabia)
Dimension Data named Cisco Global Partner of the Year
Dimension Data amalgamates UK and Continental Europe to form one region known as Dimension Data Europe

2006

Dimension Data becomes sole shareholder of Internet Solutions acquiring the remaining 20% shareholding
Dimension Data in Botswana signs Citizenship Empowerment Partnership with Principal Investments who acquire a 49% stake in Dimension Data Botswana
Dimension Data is named Cisco Global IPC Partner of the Year
Dimension Data South Africa increases shareholding in Plessey (Proprietary) Limited to 100%
Dimension Data East Africa launched, with 51% shareholding acquisition in ICL Holdings from Sameer Africa.
Dimension Data Namibia launched, with 51% shareholding acquisition in ICT Holdings from Ohlthaver and List Group

2007

Dimension Data opens representative offices in Canada and Mexico and acquires a controlling share in Datacraft Brazil and renames the company Dimension Data Brazil. Dimension Data’s presence in the Western Hemisphere is now known as Dimension Data in the Americas.
Dimension Data opens representative offices in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia thus expanding its operations to form the Middle East & Africa region.
Dimension Data consolidates its operations in Europe with the opening of an office in the Czech Republic and the sale of its Swedish based operations.
Dimension Data wins the Cisco Partner of the Year Award for the second time.
Dimension Data in Australia wins the BRW Best Professional Services Firm of the Year Award and the Best IT Services Firm of the Year Award.