Tebogo Leshope on AI, Infrastructure, and the Road to a Fully Connected South Africa

The Role of Africa Tech Week 

Leshope underscored the pivotal role of gatherings like Africa Tech Week in translating abstract ideas into tangible, real-world solutions. He emphasized that these events are not merely talk shops but crucial platforms where innovation meets opportunity. “Africa Tech Week is an event where ideas meet opportunity and execution also meets opportunity,” Leshope noted, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and customer-centric approaches in building sustainable solutions.  

Bridging the Digital Divide 

Leshope stressed the critical need to prioritize the development of core infrastructure and connectivity, particularly in the underserved rural and semi-rural areas. “We have to first drive building the core and the base of infrastructure and connectivity,” Leshope asserted, highlighting initiatives like the South Africa Connect project as vital steps in this direction. By establishing a robust and reliable network, the nation can then effectively overlay services to enhance education, healthcare, and facilitate a wide array of social and economic activities, ensuring that no community is left behind in the digital age. 

AI as a Catalyst for Growth 

Artificial intelligence emerged as a key catalyst for accelerating economic growth and enhancing operational efficiency across various sectors. Leshope enthusiastically embraced AI’s transformative potential to optimize operations, streamline processes, and empower human talent to focus on more strategic and creative endeavors. “AI algorithms give you an advantage of efficiency outright,” he explained, envisioning a future where individuals are freed from monotonous, repetitive tasks and empowered to engage in more innovative and creative pursuits.  

Envisioning a Connected Future 

Looking ahead, Leshope shared an ambitious and inspiring vision of a seamlessly connected society, powered by the transformative potential of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the advent of autonomous vehicles. “We envision a connected society,” Leshope stated, emphasizing the critical need for intelligent connectivity to enable seamless and efficient communication between humans and machines.  

“So, we’re looking very much at enabling intelligent connectivity going forward that allows for human-to-human communications, machine-to-machine communications—a totally connected society. Once that is realized, the efficiency of operating and accessing services will be at its greatest level. That’s what we are envisioning. “ 
– Tebogo Leshope, CEO, Sentech  

 

The Potential of LEO Connectivity 

He expressed a keen interest in strategically integrating LEOs into South Africa’s technological landscape, recognizing their ability to provide high-speed internet access to even the most geographically isolated communities. “As a technology phase, LEOs are the new wave now, and we don’t want to miss out on LEOs,” Leshope affirmed, advocating for a collaborative partnership model that not only preserves the existing economic structures but also harnesses the immense benefits of satellite technology to expand connectivity and unlock new opportunities for growth and development.