AfricaCom Awards 2020 – Winners announced at the first ever virtual AfricaCom

Industry acknowledges those who are building a better and more inclusive digital world at the first ever online AfricaCom.

Taking place online, this year’s AfricaCom Awards were run a little differently, with all winners selected through an open public voting system. The calibre of entries once again emphasised the exceptional commitment these companies and their leaders have to the socio-economic upliftment and advancement of Africa as a whole, which can be achieved through access to the enabling digital ecosystem. 

“In 2019, we saw an incremental shift to partnership and collaboration in the telco and technology space across the continent.  This spirit of community and co-operation has been amplified throughout 2020 with the challenges that the world has faced in dealing with a global pandemic.  The projects and winners in this year’s Awards are therefore representative of those building a better and more inclusive digital Africa.”

Tom Cuthell, Event Director of Africa Tech Festival

Vodacom Tanzania’s Smart Kitochi, enabled by KaiOS, received the Last Mile Connectivity Award for working to tackle the problem of low smartphone penetration and usage with encouraging results.

The Most Innovative Product or Service Award recognises a game-changing product or service that provided it’s target market with significant new opportunities for revenue growth or customer satisfaction. This year’s winner is “PCCW Global: Console Connect” for innovating in the fight against shortcomings for largescale implementation of business-to-business applications, including security challenges, inconsistent quality, delays and excessive technical complexity.

“Given the difficulties many of us have endured in 2020, it’s been both encouraging and motivating to celebrate the exceptional products and services that are improving African connectivity and fostering economic growth across the continent. Yet again, the AfricaCom Awards have given us the opportunity to recognise the remarkable individuals and companies behind these innovative solutions. Congratulations to all who entered and especially the respective category winners.”

Mike van den Bergh, Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer, PCCW Global, the founding sponsor of the AfricaCom Awards

Other winners include Huawei with its O&M AUTIN Grid-based Operations (COVID-19 Response Award) and ERICSSON and MTN for their 5G launch in South Africa (“Changing Lives: Building a Better, More Inclusive, Digital World Award (sponsored by Intelsat)“).

The “Female Innovator of the Year Award” went to Aicha Touré, CEO at Orange Finances Mobiles Mali, who is committed to making financial services more inclusive and accessible to all. William Anwana, Financial Officer – Corporate & Investment Banking At Sterling Bank Plc, was awarded the “Enterprise CXO of the Year Award”, for his insights on revenue optimisation, cost control and business strategy, as well as his expertise and abilities in forecasting and building partnerships that deliver.

The “CXO of the Year Award” is awarded to Aminata Kane, CEO at Orange Sierra Leone, an African-based telecoms leader who is at the forefront of navigating their organisation through Industry 4.0, by prioritising innovation, embracing disruptive tech and elevating the continent’s digital economy.

To review this year’s AfricaCom Awards and also to watch and listen to the Africa Tech Festival content,  delegate passes to the 2020 virtual Africa Tech Festival can still be obtained as the content will be available for a total of 90 days – click HERE

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