A glimpse into leading Paratus

Having led the pan-African telecommunications group Paratus for the past two years, Schalk Erasmus has realised that there are often different ways to steer the ship.

His renewed vision is focused on what truly makes a business successful, and he says it’s not just about pure economics.

“We all know it’s important to be financially successful,” says Erasmus.

“But I believe it’s equally, if not more, important to remember why you started the business and what you stand for.

“Because if you stick to that, you will be successful. We believe in real people, real service, and real value. Lose sight of that, and you lose all sense of what’s real, while also compromising your economic goals.”



Ambitions

In setting out the Group’s five-year plan in 2022, Paratus was clear about its ambitions in Africa.

While these goals are still very much in place, Erasmus is refining their focus.

In addition to setting monetary targets, the group aims to increase its customer base by 600 000 additional connections by 2028.

Erasmus explained: “We have always said that we want to be a part of the transformation of Africa by building exceptional infrastructure and delivering excellent service. While this is still at the heart of our mission, what we really want to do is connect more people and enrich their lives.

“In turn, we want our people to be passionate about delivering this mission. It’s very simple—because if we stay true to that goal, we cannot help but be even more successful. I believe that when you focus solely on the bottom line, making money as your driving force, much of your ethos is challenged, along with the joy of doing the work.”



Analogy

Erasmus uses the Parthenon as a business analogy.

The foundations are the people and the network infrastructure, including data centres, cable landing stations, and teleports; the pillars are the verticals, the services like internet connectivity, fibre, and satellite; and the roof is where the value-added services offering covers and safeguards all business operations.

From a start-up 21 years ago, Paratus has already achieved many of its goals to become a major telco player with an impressive footprint in Africa.

The cornerstones of Paratus' success to date are founded on the group owning and continually investing in its own infrastructure, building capable teams in all the sub-Equatorial African countries in which it operates, and serving customers across the continent with a seamless, quality network service.



Network

From fibre networks to data centres and teleports, Paratus is laying the foundations to connect more and more people across the African continent.

Through its extended network, the Paratus group also serves customers in over 30 African countries.

It was appointed as the landing partner for the Equiano subsea cable in Namibia and has already built four data centre facilities in three African countries, with a fifth under construction. Other significant achievements include the investment to create the continent’s East-West fibre route and the express route from Johannesburg to Europe via the Equiano subsea cable.



Footprint

Erasmus believes the best way to focus on the pan-African plan is to expand the group’s footprint, connect more people, and make a difference wherever the Paratus network crosses.

“It gives us immense joy to connect communities via fibre or satellite connections to the internet for the very first time. As we enter new territories, we aim to leave minimal environmental impact and give back to the communities in which we operate.

“This is the way to do business—empowering people with what they need while leaving as little negative impact as possible... doing right by the people and the planet.”

While pushing forward with an aggressive expansion programme, Erasmus says that disruption on this scale can only be successful if you understand that there must be other positive impacts to consider.

“We need reality checks as we expand, so we actively search for ways in which we can improve situations. For example, we recently connected a community in Mozambique that previously had no link to the internet. By installing a LEO satellite link at Santa Maria, located on the east coast of the Machangulo Peninsula, we now provide internet connectivity to approximately 1 000 people, including a school.

“This is transformation in practice. It is what makes us tick, and this is how we can help empower the people of this continent, with minimal environmental impact.”



Personality

His disarming honesty, mixed with competence, bravado, and humility, makes Erasmus a unique and engaging personality.

By challenging his own methods, he fosters awareness among his colleagues.

He enjoys listening to ideas and strives to be available to both his colleagues and customers. He believes true accountability comes from being open to suggestions and approachable.

His passion for the environment, people, and governance guides his thinking and actions. Although he admits to always wanting to fix things, he realises that sometimes the best approach is to simply listen.

Knowing the importance of always listening and learning, Erasmus inspires his team to do the same and to enjoy what they do.

As he says: “We are, at the heart, a people’s business. We are connecting people. We are providing the tools and the network to make it happen in Africa. This is our mission and our joy. It’s what has made us successful, and as we connect more and more people, we will help to create even more success for others.”

If the man at the top of an African-born telco is saying that Paratus is different because it delivers real service and real value, then the group’s continued continental success is very real too.