Record registration for AfricaCom

A testimony to the continent’s dynamism, Africa’s mobile subscriptions are expected to continue to buck worldwide trends by soaring a further 80m to reach 480m by the year end (source: Informa Telecoms & Media). With continued low penetration this figure will keep on growing.

In response to increased competition and technological advances operators are spending more to offer reliable and innovative services. Investment in networks offering a potential in the data segment, such as 3G/HSPA or fixed wireless (including WiMAX) is also top of the list. Talks of mergers and acquisitions with some of the market’s biggest names (Zain, MTN) have been making headlines throughout the year, and international projects such as submarine cables and satellite networks are coming to fruition to improve broadband access. As operators try to maintain their profits while expanding, they continue to develop new partnership models to improve their cost-effectiveness.

Given this buoyant African market, it is no surprise that all major stakeholders are supporting the continent’s premier communications event – the 12th Annual AfricaCom Congress and Exhibition www.comworldseries.com/africa. Taking place in Cape Town 11-12 November, the 2 day congress and exhibition is hailed by regional telecom supremos as THE annual meeting place for all African telecom professionals to network, learn and do business. Registrations are already up a staggering 60% on last year and with only 12 of the 220 exhibition stands remaining, this year is set to break all attendance records.

The high level congress programme covers all of the latest need to know topics around sustaining growth across the continent: from invesment to broadband deployments, outsourcing, value-added services, marketing and more. A speaker panel of 75 visionaries comprises representatives from leading African and international operators and investors and boasts a record-breaking 50% more at CxO level than last year. Speakers will reflect on their achievements over the past year and share their strategies for future growth across an exceptionally bigger programme of 4 plenary sessions, 2 special focus days and 8 streams.

Among them, Chris Gabriel will present Zain’s strategy of “creating shareholder value and delivering an exceptional customer experience”. He says “The AfricaCom congress is a fast track opportunity to engage with peers and vendors to learn of existing and upcoming technology and innovation”. Other keynote participants include Zolisa Masiza, Group Executive: Regulatory Affairs for MTN, the continent’s largest operator; Marc Rennard, EVP at Orange Group, which has investments across the continents and I sa champion of triple play models in various markets; Nagi Abboud, the new CEO of Atlantique Telecom, present across West Africa; Régis Turrini, Senior EVP at Vivendi, owners of Maroc Telecom which has subsidiaries in West Africa as well as being one of the major operators in North Africa. Other operators represented on this year’s programme include Vodacom (DR Congo, Mozambique, Tanzania), Safaricom (Kenya), Warid Telecom (Uganda), Etisalat (Nigeria), Hormuud Telecom (Somalia), Comium (Ivory Coast), Canar Telecommunications (Sudan), Reliance, and many more.

“The conference programme gives a dynamic picture of the whole of Africa’s telecommunications sector, with the presence of pan-African operator groups investing in multiple technologies, as well as new entrants and alternative players with completely different business models”, says Julie Rey, Research Director at the organiser, Informa Telecoms & Media.

In addition to the congress is the 220 stand exhibition. Featuring all of the major vendors and solution providers from across Africa and beyond, exhibitors will represent the whole telecoms ecosystem: operators, equipment vendors, telecoms solutions providers, satellite operators, carriers’ carriers, consultants. A melting pot of high end technology, this is an opportunity for participants to see, touch and try the latest solutions to hit the market.

Participation is free to Africa operators, thus allowing a great representation of all the continent’s players. “This year we are expecting over 3,500 participants to AfricaCom and we are offering a broad range of networking features at and around the event to ensure that everyone can make the most of the opportunities”, says Caroline Wiezien, Marketing Manager for AfricaCom.

For more information, please visit www.comworldseries.com/africa