Nedbank Group and AMD Replicate Education-Based Technology Deployments To Expand Internet Access In South Africa

Johannesburg, South Africa .-The Nedbank Group, through its Foundation, and Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) today launched two new 50x15 Learning Labs in the North West Province, at Sol Plaatjie Secondary and Mmabatho High Schools. The new 50x15 Learning Labs are customized, measurable deployments of technology solutions that not only provide constituents with Internet access but also educational, personal and professional development tools that unlock new and powerful ways for students to collaborate with their teachers.

Similar to previous 50x15 deployments, the new learning labs follow AMD’s proven methodology which includes providing tools, techniques and training to maximize educational impact as part of the 50x15 Initiative, which aims to enable affordable Internet connectivity and computing capability to 50 percent of the world’s population by the year 2015.

“We are excited to have been selected as one of the schools in the North West Province to receive a Learning Lab. We believe that technology has the ability to unleash the potential not only of our learners, but also our teachers. We know that it will empower innovation among our teachers by giving them access to current curriculum materials and not keep them limited to the sometimes ageing textbooks and more traditional teachers methods,” says Mr. John, principal of Mmabatho High School.

“The Nedbank Group is committed to being a positive force on the education landscape. This commitment sees 70 percent of our corporate social responsibility spend, being directed to projects that support this education agenda,” says Reabetsoe Motsepe, Head: Nedbank Group CSI.

“The Nedbank 50x15 learning labs see South African youth being provided with access to technologically advanced learning facilities that will boost the quality of the education that they receive.”

The two new Nedbank 50x15 Learning Labs will include AMD processor-based computer systems to serve approximately 1,400 students per school. The labs will provide computer access and Internet access to help community members advance in the information age and provide teachers additional research and educational resources. The systems are able to run the latest operating systems including Windows Starter Edition, Windows XP Pro and Linux. The labs also come equipped with content and applications; a local area network; Internet connectivity; a teacher-training programme; maintenance and support; and a sustainability plan. Additionally, this Learning Lab includes support from a broad ecosystem of partners including Microsoft, Cisco, Tarsus, First for Business, and Learnthings.

“By putting the right technology and support in place at the outset of a project like this, we know that we can actively reduce the amount of maintenance required to enable 100 percent uptime,” said Imi Mosaheb, South Africa country manager, AMD. “Our Learning Lab in Gugulethu is proof that this approach works. Since the opening of the Gugulethu Learning Lab in April 2007 the only maintenance that has been required is the replacement of a few pieces of peripheral components.”

“These Learning Labs are further evidence of our ongoing commitment to and partnership with the communities that we serve in South Africa. They are a testimony to a true collaborative approach with like-minded organisations like the Nedbank Group, who understand the impact of education and the opportunities that access to technology can create,” concludes Mosaheb.

AMD and the 50x15 Initiative have deployed more than 23 Learning Labs in Africa, including programs in Uganda, Mali, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, Cameroon, Gabon. With these new Learning Labs, 50x15 through its strategic partnerships with organizations like Nedbank Group now has four fully fledged Learning Labs and are looking at additional ways of reaching local communities.

About 50x15
The 50x15 Initiative, launched by AMD at 2004 at the World Economic Forum, is a bold and far-reaching effort to develop new technology and solutions that will help enable affordable, accessible Internet connectivity and computing capabilities for 50 percent of the world’s population by the year 2015. More than just goodwill, 50x15 is about fostering long-term economic progress and investment within high-growth markets in ways that benefit a wide range of people and businesses. For more information, visit www.50x15.com.