Johannesburg, South Africa — Telkom has strengthened its commitment to local innovation and inclusive economic growth by expanding its partnership with Khoi Tech, a 100% black-owned wearable original equipment manufacturer (OEM) based in Soweto.

The expanded relationship reflects more than a supplier agreement. It demonstrates Telkom’s ongoing commitment to enterprise and supplier development by backing promising local innovators with the support needed to move from early-stage development into meaningful commercial participation.

Khoi Tech’s growth journey is a strong example of what can happen when local innovation is supported with funding, mentorship, training, market access, supplier development, and real procurement opportunities.

From early-stage support to commercial scale

Khoi Tech first engaged with Telkom through Telkom FutureMakers, Telkom’s enterprise and supplier development initiative. Through this platform, Khoi Tech received support that helped bring its first smartwatch product, the Khoi Afriwatch1, to market.

That support extended beyond capital and included:

• mentorship and practical business guidance,
• training to strengthen operational readiness,
• marketing support to build awareness and credibility,
• market access to real customers, and
• quick payment terms to support cash flow and business sustainability.

Today, Khoi Tech has evolved from an ESD participant into a supplier with national visibility, demonstrating the impact of development support that leads to tangible commercial outcomes.

A proudly South African technology brand

Khoi Tech operates as an OEM that specifies its devices in South Africa while partnering with international contract manufacturers to produce devices under the Khoi brand. The intellectual property behind the Khoi brand remains local and is 100% owned by Khoi Tech, ensuring that innovation, value creation, and brand equity remain anchored in South Africa.

In a consumer electronics environment often dominated by imported brands, Khoi Tech’s growth highlights the potential of local technology businesses to compete when supported with both capability-building and access to market.

Expanding from devices into data-driven business solutions

Khoi Tech’s innovation journey began with products such as the Khoi Afriwatch1 smartwatch and the Khoi Afripods1 true wireless earphones. The company has since evolved beyond hardware into integrated digital solutions that combine IoT devices with software platforms delivered in SaaS and PaaS models.

As part of the expanded relationship, Khoi Tech is also being onboarded by Telkom Business, where its business solutions will be made available to corporate clients across business, government, sports, and other institutions.

Khoi Tech’s business solutions include:

• Employee Wellness solutions for the occupational health sector across industries,
• Dr To Patient Remote Monitoring solutions for the public and private healthcare sectors,
• Drive Fatigue and Wellness solutions for fleet industries, and
• Sports Team Data Analytics solutions for sports teams and performance environments.

These solutions provide actionable data for proactive interventions and can play an important role in life-saving scenarios, particularly in healthcare, transport, mining, and elderly care settings.

Their relevance is especially significant in the mining sector, where compliance requirements such as Rule 16.7 are increasing the need for trackable wearable devices for miners. Khoi Tech’s solutions are positioned to support such industry needs with locally relevant, world-class innovation.

The solutions also align with Telkom Group’s data-driven growth strategy, reinforcing the strategic fit between the two companies.

Supporting transformation, jobs, and industrial growth

Telkom views the partnership as part of its broader commitment to strengthening South Africa’s ICT sector, supporting black-owned technology businesses, and using procurement as a lever for inclusive growth.

By enabling local OEMs to build products, platforms, and enterprise-ready solutions, this approach contributes to skills development, job creation, industrial capability, and long-term competitiveness.

Khoi Tech’s growth demonstrates that effective supplier development is not only about once-off support. It is about creating long-term commercial pathways that allow emerging businesses to scale sustainably and participate meaningfully in the economy.

Building trust through meaningful inclusion

The partnership also speaks to the importance of trust and intentional support within South Africa’s innovation ecosystem. Telkom continues to position itself as a partner that not only develops emerging businesses, but also integrates them into real opportunities that respect local innovation and create long-term value.

Khoi Tech’s credibility is further supported by the fact that its devices are ICASA-certified for quality and safety and are backed by Proudly South African.

Retail growth and customer engagement

In another milestone for the partnership, Khoi Tech is set to open its first retail store at The Hub, Telkom Head Office. The outlet will initially operate as an experiential store, complementing Telkom’s existing retail partnership and strengthening the customer-facing presence of the Khoi brand.

A partnership that brings the campaign to life

The partnership reflects the spirit of #EmpoweringLocalInnovation by showing how local ideas can be transformed into real opportunities, real products, and real economic participation.

Telkom’s brand promise, Possible Begins Here, speaks to creating the conditions for growth, while Khoi Tech’s promise, Enhance Your Life, reflects innovation that improves real-world outcomes.

Together, the partnership tells a compelling story: Telkom creates the conditions for possibility. Khoi turns that possibility into products and platforms that enhance lives.

As Khoi Tech continues to grow from Soweto-based innovator to nationally visible supplier and enterprise solutions provider, the partnership offers a strong example of how local innovation can drive economic inclusion, industry growth, and meaningful social impact.

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