Huge Connect: Where Did We Come from and Where Are We Going?
The old adage goes, “If it ain’t broke, then don’t try and fix it.”
While this may apply in certain areas, we tend to think a little differently. Our team believe that there’s always a better, faster, or more cost-effective way of doing something. We think that the “way things are” aren’t always the best that they can be. We also know that today’s technology has opened doors to products and services which we could never conceive of before.
Looking back on the evolution of Huge Connect, you can clearly see the positive impact of lateral thinking and the constant striving to be better than we were yesterday.
Looking back on Huge Connect
Huge Connect began in 2004 as a company registered as “ConnectNet Broadband Wireless (Pty) Limited”. Affectionately known as “ConnectNet”, this was a business formed by a group of individuals who believed that technology innovations would enable an enhanced Point of Sale (POS) experience in South Africa.
The problem
Up to 2004, all data communications for POS card terminals were done on the legacy X.25 Saponet network, which was managed by Telkom SA. Bruce Stevens, Andre Lessing, Keven Sinclair, and many others believed that more effective data provision could be achieved on the GSM mobile networks, and so a new and exciting company emerged.
The solution
ConnectNet had its first customer in 2005, connected via locally developed data modems. These modems used the national 2G GSM mobile data networks, allowing ConnectNet to concentrate on the provision of services to merchants and banks without the enormous cost of building a national communications network.
Management soon learned that building a single SIM device came with several challenges. Therefore, in-house developed modems were adapted to accommodate two SIM cards from two alternate GSM network operators, with automatic failover between these networks when required.
This development transformed the landscape and created a guaranteed service out of multiple best-effort services, thus providing merchants with a reliable, secure POS communication medium.
A heartfelt thanks to forward-thinking management!
However, as we morphed into the sturdy oak tree of connectivity, we realised that there was even more we could do for our customers.
Following requests from various financial institutions, ConnectNet embarked on a journey to become PCI (Payment Card Industry) compliant and achieved this status in August 2015. The PCI certification is renewed annually, and this status will be maintained for many years to come.
Who’s Huge Now?
At the end of March 2017, after a thorough due diligence process, ConnectNet was acquired in its entirety by Huge Group Limited, a JSE (Johannesburg Stock Exchange) and A2X listed company. On 21 August 2017, ConnectNet rebranded as Huge Connect (Pty) Ltd to align itself with other group companies.
As with everything in life – and especially in technology – many things have changed over the years.
So has the payments communications landscape, where faster ethernet connectivity is replacing serial connectivity, and external communications modems and routers are being replaced by card terminals with SIM card connectivity.
All these early technologies had their place, and some still play a crucial role, depending on the requirements at the merchant site.
Huge Connect has evolved at the same pace, and today offers a vast range of secure data connectivity solutions to cater for all payment requirements, with links to all major banks, financial institutions, and payment partners.
Thank you
Huge Connect remains committed to delivering the best value to our customers, as we have been doing since 2005.
You have been – and remain – part of our ongoing transformation journey, and we thank you for your loyal support.
Huge Connect is a trusted provider of secure data connectivity. The company operates mostly in South Africa, but services also extend to Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland, and Zambia. Huge Connect is a provider to all major banks, as well as other important partners and direct customers, from SMME (Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises) to large enterprises.
