This keynote presentation looks at the state of Africa’s telecom sector in 2025 and beyond. It will explore emerging trends, the pressures of dynamic competition, and how telcos are revolutionizing their services to remain at the centre of Africa’s digital ecosystem.

Speaker:
Stephen Blewett, CEO, MTN Ghana

This session will explore how partnerships are enabling tailored services, including the growing adoption of LEO solutions across the continent. It will also address challenges such as affordability and regulatory barriers in implementing satellite-driven applications.

Speakers:

• Nicolas Baravalle, Regional VP Africa, Eutelsat

This panel explores Africa’s digital roadmap to 2030, with a focus on AI deployments, national-level strategies, and critical decisions needed for long-term planning. The discussion will highlight both the opportunities and the challenges ahead as Africa builds the infrastructure for a truly digital future.

Speakers:

• Wojtek Piorko, Managing Director Africa, Vertiv
• Jon Abbott, EMEA Technologies Director for Global Strategic Clients, Vertiv

This panel examines how effective policy and regulatory frameworks can strengthen Africa’s digital economy. Discussions will focus on integrating local companies into project rollouts, mobilizing public funds, and ensuring governments keep pace with emerging technologies.

Speakers:

• Liza Zouabi–Niedermeier, Executive: Group Pricing Compliance and Regulatory Economics, Telkom
• Ronen Daniel, Head of Warning Solutions, Utimaco
• Caroline Mbugua, Senior Director, Public Policy & Communications for Sub-Saharan Africa, GSMA

As market demand for 5G accelerates, telcos face pressure to deliver agility, scalability, and shared infrastructure. This keynote fireside chat will explore how operators are responding to competition, while highlighting use cases where telcos and governments are partnering to strengthen nationwide rollouts and unlock the potential of 5G.

Investments in terrestrial cable infrastructure and LEO satellites are vital to lowering costs and extending seamless connectivity to underserved areas. This session will address the challenges of sovereignty, licensing, and security, while examining regulatory frameworks, public-private partnerships, and spectrum management needed to drive large-scale adoption.

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are key to driving Africa’s digital infrastructure. This panel will discuss how to design PPPs that attract investment, mobilize resources, and provide critical skills support. It will also address the legal and regulatory barriers that can slow deployment and how collaboration can overcome these challenges.

Speakers:

• Robert Aouad, CEO, ISOCEL Telecom
• Olusegun Okuneye, Deputy Director, Strategic Business Initiatives, ipNX Nigeria Limited
• Richard Cazalet, Executive: Strategy and Transformation, Telkom SA
• Shireen Powell, CEO, Project Isizwe 

Africa continues to face a critical skills gap that lags behind rapid technological progress. This session explores how expanding access to quality education, investing in training, and mobilizing private sector funding are essential steps to empower the workforce and align talent with the demands of the digital economy.

Partnerships are essential to advance subsea cable projects that will expand digital inclusion and accelerate both technological and economic growth. This session also considers the risks, including security challenges, attacks, and potential disruptions in building and maintaining critical connectivity infrastructure.