Returning to Cape Town for its 27th edition, AfricaCom is set to take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from the 12th to the 14th of November 2024. As Africa’s premier event for the connectivity and telecommunications sectors, it brings together the brightest minds in the industry to exchange knowledge, foster collaboration, and inspire innovation. This year’s event will be a vital platform for accelerating Africa’s digital transformation, shining a spotlight on the continent’s ambition, creativity, and potential to lead in the global digital revolution.
Our Founder and Chief Editor, Akim Benamara, will also be moderating two panel sessions at this event – Emerging Technologies Paving the Way for the Future of Connectivity & The Network and Accelerating Economic Prosperity in Africa: Leveraging AI for Sustainable Growth reinforcing our commitment to being a driving force in Africa’s digital transformation.
Having attended and covered AfricaCom for many years, we’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible strides being made in Africa’s connectivity and innovation. This time, we’re proud to take our involvement a step further by actively contributing to the conversation, helping shape the future of Africa’s digital transformation and supporting the continent’s rise in the global digital economy.
– Akim Benamara, Founder and Chief Editor, TechAfrica News
AfricaCom features four key agendas, each designed to drive the continent’s digital transformation. From showcasing groundbreaking innovations in connectivity, broadcasting, and media to exploring the journey towards universal connectivity, AfricaCom is committed to highlighting the latest trends in telecommunications and equipping the continent with world-class data center infrastructure.
AfricaCom Centre Stage
This agenda showcases transformative advancements that are propelling the continent into the digital era, setting the tone for Africa’s future in technology and communication.
Key Sessions:
The Next Wave: Redefining the Frontier of Media and Entertainment Innovation
Speakers: Guillaume Noe, VP of Growth, Carry1st, Gillian Ezra, Head of Sales and Business Development, Ayoba, Wesley Maritim, Business Development Manager East & Southern Africa, BBC World Service & Guy Kamgaing, CEO, StarNews Mobile
The Future of Content in the Digital Age: Content Curation, Engagement, and Tech Integration
Speakers: Boniswa Sidwaba, Head of Content Operations, Sub-Saharan Africa, TikTok, Ized Uanikhehi, CEO & Founder, Zedi Inc., Adrian Ephraim, Managing Editor, Tech Safari, Ayesha Chowdhury, Senior Manager, Global Business Development & Partnerships, BBC World Service & Minnie Harris, General Manager: MTN Group Digital Verticals and Markets, MTN Group
Driving Innovation: How 4G and 5G Will Revolutionize Connectivity in Africa
Speakers: Davide Tacchino, Managing Executive: Terminals, Vodacom SA (Pty) Ltd, John Davies, Senior Equity Research Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence & Nomvuyiso Batyi, CEO, Association of Comms and Technology NPC
Bridging the Digital Divide: Driving Ubiquitous Connectivity for the Future of Africa
Speakers: Alpheus Mangale, Group CEO, SEACOM, Yvonne Francis Mashuda, Head of Wholesale, TIGO Tanzania Public Limited Company, John Davies, Senior Equity Research Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence, Heather Lanigan, Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, U.S. Trade and Development Agency, and Samuel Kwabena Nkrumah, Head of Transport/Transmission, AT Ghana.
In case you missed it during AfricaCom 2023
The interview at AfricaCom brought together Nitesh Singh and Akim Benamara, where Singh, leveraging his extensive experience at Accenture, provided valuable insights. As the Managing Director for Communications, Media & Technology, Singh discussed the changing landscape of policies in Africa’s digital transformation. Emphasizing the historical flexibility in policies that initially accelerated ICT and telecommunications growth, Singh highlighted a recent deceleration. He underscored the importance of fostering a more robust dialogue between the private and public sectors to adapt to the dynamic technological landscape.
Connectivity and Digital Infrastructure
As Africa continues to embrace digital transformation, addressing the challenges and opportunities in connectivity is paramount.
Key Sessions:
Emerging Technologies Paving the Way for the Future of Connectivity & The Network
Speakers: Wilfried Dudink, Senior Director – Strategy & Development, Digital Realty, Robert Aouad, CEO, ISOCEL Telecom, Dr. Kareem Moshood, AGM, Nigerian Communications Satellite & Akim Benamara, Founder & CEO, TechAfrica News
Network Innovation, Integration & Investment: Creating Seamless Connectivity with Digital Tech
Speakers: Daniel Adaramola, Chief Information Security Officer, SunTrust Bank Nigeria, Katharina Pillay, Managing Director, South African Communications Forum (SACF) & Tinuade Oguntuyi, GM Technical, Information Connectivity Solutions
Untapped Potential: Broadband Access Solutions for Africa’s Rural Communities
Speakers: Thobile Mbatha, Deputy CIO, eThekwini Municipality, Emmanuel Owusu, Chief Technology Officer, AT Ghana, Tinuade Oguntuyi, GM Technical, Information Connectivity Solutions & Flenk Mnisi, COO, Sentech
The Future of Collaboration: Forming Key Partnerships to Revolutionize Connectivity Throughout Africa
Speakers: Thomas Bruns, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Middle East and Africa, U.S. Department of Commerce & Gabriella Powell, Communications Manager, Unconnected.org
Telcos of Tomorrow
The “Telcos of Tomorrow” track is designed to illuminate the evolving landscape of telecommunications in Africa, highlighting both the challenges that operators face and the opportunities that lie ahead.
Key Sessions:
The Future of Telecoms: Emerging Growth Drivers for Africa’s Modern Telco
Speakers: Rolivhuwa Maluma, GM: Digital Services – Marketing & Strategy, MTN, Dion Jerling, Co-Founder, Connect Earth, Kwanele Radebe Onyango, Executive: Telecommunications, Media & Technology Coverage, Standard Bank South Africa, Basha Pillay, Managing Executive: Services, Vodacom, & Ajibola Olude, Executive Secretary, Association of Telecommunications Company of Nigeria (ATCON)
Integrated AI: Telco Blueprints for Business Model and Service Delivery Transformation
Speakers: Calvin Collett, CEO, Melon Mobile, Norbert Prihoda, Deputy CEO, Tunisie Telecom, Dhiresh Surajpal, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Google, Pushkar Gokhale, Chief Digital and Strategy Officer, Openserve & Gabriella Powell, Communications Manager, Unconnected.org
Bridging the Connectivity Gap with Collaboration: How Telco Partnerships Will Drive Innovation in Africa
Speakers: Tinuade Oguntuyi, GM Technical, Information Connectivity Solutions, Lisa Meng, Senior Advisor, UNICEF Giga, Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) & Martin Petkov, COO, Effortel Technologies SA
Data Centers Africa
As businesses increasingly rely on digital infrastructure, this track will showcase how innovations in colocation, edge computing, and high-performance computing are paving the way for enhanced connectivity and efficiency.
Key Sessions:
Fireside Chat: The Rise of Colocation: How African Enterprises are Leveraging Shared Data Centers for Growth
Speakers: Finhai Munzara, Interim CEO, Africa Data Centres & Anthony Rossabi, Managing Member, OCOLO
Panel: Future-Proofing Data Centres: Challenges and Strategies for the Modern Data Centre
Speakers: Naroa Zurutuza, CTO, Giga UNICEF, Olumide Idowu, Group Chief Technology Officer, AlphaBeta Consulting LLP, Adv Mtho Xulu, President, South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Muhammad Naveed Saeed, Vice President – Global Engineering & Delivery, Uptime Institute & Mainza Moono, CCO – Data Centres, Axian Group
Fireside Chat: Be Data and AI Ready by Deploying High-Performance Compute in the Right Locations
Speakers: Matt Armstrong-Barnes, CTO – AI, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) & Phil Barnett, SVP Sales, EMEA, Digital Realty
PortaOne
PortaOne is a renowned software company that specializes in the development of billing, business support, and customer management solutions for telecommunications service providers. Founded in 2002, the company has established itself as a leader in the field of unified communications and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). PortaOne’s versatile and scalable software platforms cater to a wide range of telecom services, including hosted PBX, SIP trunking, and wholesale VoIP, enabling service providers to efficiently manage their operations, billing, and customer interactions. With a global presence, PortaOne’s solutions play a pivotal role in Africa, enhancing the telecommunications industry’s capabilities and service delivery.
Website: www.portaone.com
LinkedIn: PortaOne
PROTEI
PROTEI aims to provide telecom operators with reliable and proven core network components, offering them a seamless path for network modernization and upgrades, while preparing their networks for the next generation of advanced 5G networks. As an alternative vendor, PROTEI brings a breath of fresh air to the industry, fostering healthy competition that is essential for operators in emerging markets. Furthermore, there is a growing demand for core components in the market for constructing private LTE/5G networks to support industry automation.
Website: Protei
LinkedIn: Protei LinkedIn
Ciena
Ciena is a prominent networking solutions provider, offering cutting-edge technologies for high-bandwidth services. Specializing in optical networking and software innovation, Ciena empowers businesses and service providers in Africa to adapt to the demands of a hyper-connected world, ensuring robust and scalable communication networks.
Website: Ciena
LinkedIn: Ciena LinkedIn
PerceptionTV
PerceptionTV offers Telcos a comprehensive, customizable solution to launch their own branded TV services over their broadband networks. Their flexible Telco TV products eliminate the need for costly, in-house development, adapting to the client’s internal expertise and scaling as needed. This ensures a seamless launch at a fraction of the cost.
In addition, their in-house internet TV service, RAPIDO, is live and ready for deployment. RAPIDO can be tailored with local content and services, allowing clients to enhance their offerings with a relevant, customer-focused TV service delivered over their existing networks.
Meet PerceptionTV at AfricaCom 2024!
Website: www.perception.tv
LinkedIn: PerceptionTV
Openserve
Openserve, a subsidiary of the Telkom Group, is South Africa’s largest telecommunications infrastructure provider, featuring the most extensive fixed broadband network in the country. They offer a wide range of services, including high-speed internet access, wholesale connectivity solutions, and comprehensive network infrastructure. Openserve’s commitment to delivering reliable and scalable connectivity empowers businesses and communities, enabling digital transformation and fostering economic growth throughout South Africa.
Website: www.openserve.co.za
LinkedIn: Openserve LinkedIn
Stulz
Stulz is a global leader in providing innovative and efficient climate control solutions, specializing in critical infrastructure environments. Their extensive product portfolio includes precision air conditioning systems like the CyberAir series, energy-efficient chillers such as the ECO series, and modular cooling solutions designed for data centers. Stulz also offers the Airstream line of air handling units and advanced control systems to optimize performance. Committed to sustainability, Stulz continually invests in research and development to deliver cutting-edge solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients while minimizing environmental impact.
Website: www.stulz.com
LinkedIn: Stulz LinkedIn
Angola Cables
Angola Cables is a leading telecommunications provider that plays a vital role in connecting Africa to the global digital landscape. Specializing in high-capacity international and domestic connectivity solutions, they operate extensive submarine cable systems, including the SACS (South Atlantic Cable System) and WACS (West Africa Cable System), which provide reliable and high-speed internet access. Their services also include data center operations and cloud connectivity solutions, catering to the growing demands for bandwidth and digital services across the continent.
Website: www.angolacables.co.ao
LinkedIn: Angola Cables
Make sure to visit these exhibitors at AfricaCom 2024!
Get Front Row Seat Experience with Us
Through our coverage, we aim to provide our readers with a front-row seat to these transformative events. Whether you’re attending in person or following along from afar, TechAfrica News is your go-to source for real-time updates, interviews, and deep-dive features on the future of Africa’s digital and telecommunications landscape.
