digital africa summit day three

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The 8th Annual Digital Africa Summit was a resounding success. For speakers and delegates returning from last year, Business Excellence Global Media continues to offer a good mix of cutting edge concepts, quality speakers, a platform for dialogue and most importantly decisions and applications for the African market. Serge Koginsky, CEO HTA Group, who attended last year’s Sum- mit and was presenting the innovative EN- ERGYGO at the Solution Zone this year, had this to say, “Incredible! I don’t know why I did not do it before. I’ve been to other con- ferences that are very expensive and don’t compare in terms of caliber and number of business contacts. You meet the right peo- ple, decision makers, from all over Africa. It’s excellent. That is the name of the [orga- nizing] company and that is what you get.” LET’S DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR! For those experiencing the Digital Africa Summit for the first time, opportunities for knowledge sharing have been phenomenal in both the formal sessions and informal meets with fellow delegates. As the ICT industry in Africa becomes more mature the players are realizing that they must share, dialogue and move fast to see the kinds of changes on the Africa ICT landscape that drive socio-economic change. The levels of interaction are much more focused generating open and honest debate; the purposes are not purely academic but each player is concerned about the way forward, making decisions as well as commitment to agendas. Meetings have been characterized by hard-hitting questions followed by candid answers. The highlight amidst the spirited debates is the summit’s focus on Africa applica- tions specifically how ICT is a force for change in grass root Africa. The lovely Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort again lends its’ own brand of charm to the Summits’ synergy: varied interactive program, quality speakers, delegates from a cross-section of areas in the ICT industry, as well as a charity evening dinner. Particularly exciting this year was that at least 1000 people around the world were able to fol- low the Summit on twitter. In addition to contributions to discussions, others used the tweets as a knowledge sharing opportunity to inform ICT in Africa discussions at similar events in US. Delegates will be looking to see results on certain key issues for ex- ample the removal of taxes on access devices such as mobile phones and PCs which would lower the costs of the devices and increase consumption, and removing taxes on the termination of international phone calls and text messages (SMS). DIGITAL AFRICA SUMMIT 9-11 MARCH 2010 - ENGAGING POSITIVE CHANGE KAMPALA MARCH2010 FOLLOW THE SUMMIT @DASummit2010 http://digitalafricasummit.wordpress.com

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Digital Africa Summit 2010 "Digital Convergence & Innovation Driving Positive Change"

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Page 1: Digital Africa Summit Day Three

The 8th Annual Digital Africa Summit was a resounding success. For speakers and delegates returning from last year, Business Excellence Global Media continues to offer a good mix of cutting edge concepts, quality speakers, a platform for dialogue and most importantly decisions and applications for the African market. Serge Koginsky, CEO HTA Group, who attended last year’s Sum-mit and was presenting the innovative EN-ERGYGO at the Solution Zone this year, had this to say, “Incredible! I don’t know why I did not do it before. I’ve been to other con-ferences that are very expensive and don’t compare in terms of caliber and number of business contacts. You meet the right peo-ple, decision makers, from all over Africa. It’s excellent. That is the name of the [orga-nizing] company and that is what you get.”

Let’s do it again next year!For those experiencing the Digital Africa Summit for the first time, opportunities for knowledge sharing have been phenomenal in both the formal sessions and informal meets with fellow delegates.

As the ICT industry in Africa becomes more mature the players are realizing that they must share, dialogue and move fast to see the kinds of changes on the Africa ICT landscape that drive socio-economic change. The levels of interaction are much more focused generating open and honest debate; the purposes are not purely academic but each player is concerned about the way forward, making decisions as well as commitment to agendas. Meetings have been characterized by hard-hitting questions followed by candid answers. The highlight amidst the spirited debates is the summit’s focus on Africa applica-tions specifically how ICT is a force for change in grass root Africa.

The lovely Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort again lends its’ own brand of charm to the Summits’ synergy: varied interactive program, quality speakers, delegates from a cross-section of areas in the ICT industry, as well as a charity evening dinner. Particularly exciting this year was that at least 1000 people around the world were able to fol-low the Summit on twitter. In addition to contributions to discussions, others used the tweets as a knowledge sharing opportunity to inform ICT in Africa discussions at similar events in US.

Delegates will be looking to see results on certain key issues for ex-ample the removal of taxes on access devices such as mobile phones and PCs which would lower the costs of the devices and increase consumption, and removing taxes on the termination of international phone calls and text messages (SMS).

digital africa summit 9-11 march 2010 - ENGAGING POSITIvE CHANGE

KAMPALA MARCH2010

follow thE summit

@DASummit2010

http://digitalafricasummit.wordpress.com

Page 2: Digital Africa Summit Day Three

HoW MUCH sMarter?iBM’s danCing on tHe PreCiPiCe, again

“what is the sound of the planet talking? a century ago, the answer was simple: people conversing in person or over wired networks. to-day, it’s not just everyone, but also everything talking to every other thing, in constant motion.”

Last year, at the Digital Africa Summit, I sat down with the Chief Technical Officer at IBM Sub-Sahara, Clifford Forster and in what would be an eye-opening conversation; he explained what IBM was thinking.

A smarter planet; something he called “the internet of things.” The idea behind what was thought to be the next stage in innova-tion and technological advancement. The idea that all the main areas of our lives were connected and that at no time in history than today were we able to allow all these things to “talk”. Energy, infrastructure, traffic, food, banking, telecommunications, intelligence, cities, etc; all these functions and elements today are connected and monitored and IBM is looking at ways of making a smart planet: enabling sustainable businesses and systems for a sustainable planet.

This year in his presentation, Walter Mhlongo, took this conversation to the next level with “Smarter Telecommunications”. Africa has only about 1% of its information online and so has to download about 99% of its information from the rest of the world. Challenged by language barriers despite interconnectivity and facing similar problems, he explained that IBM’s commitment to a smarter planet had led it to develop “spoken-

web” (IBM’s leading automated transla-tion technologies) in areas like health care, trade and travel bringing to life real-time automated translation solutions all available on the internet.

It is estimated 2 billion people will be on the Web by 2011 – and they’ll be doing more than talking. video on demand, IP television and internet Tv will account for nearly 90% of consumer IP traffic by 2012. When people talk, it will be to many more people – via social networking sites, whose memberships will top 500 million in the next three years. Figures that are not only indicative of the future, but also of the countless opportunities that will arise for companies to innovate, collabo-rate and to feed into and re-define their world in order to continue delivering top notch services to their clients.

As I wandered across the conference corridors, I ran into Walter’s colleague, Dr. Shiyghan Narti, IBM’s Strategy and Marketing Executive. He reaffirmed IBM’s commitment to the continent, indicat-ing that the company was investing over $100 million in expanding its presence in Sub-Saharan Africa. With this investment, IBM is better placed to enable its’ clients to take advantage of the opportunities presented by gaining new insights in ways previously not possible.

“Over the next few years, you will see IBM playing a critical role as an innova-tor, providing inspired solutions to local issues and creating high valued products that matter to the communities and cli-ents it serves”, he confidently states. “We will continue to leverage industry leading forums like the Digital Africa Summit to engage in meaningful conversation with our clients and partners across Africa.”

In just three years, IP traffic is expected to total more than half a Zettabyte (a Zettabyte is a trillion gigabytes or – 1

followed by 21 zeros). The need for this information to reach the last half of Africa, triggering access to massive amounts of information and thus allowing informed deci-sion making, better sustainable practices and an interconnected system of performance to deliver our planet to the next level has never been greater.

digital africa summit 9-11 march 2010 - ENGAGING POSITIvE CHANGE

“IncredIble! I don’t know why I dId not do It before. I’ve been to other confer-ences that are very expen-sIve and don’t compare In terms of calIber and num-ber of busIness contacts. you meet the rIght people, decIsIon makers, from all over afrIca. It’s excellent. that Is the name of the [or-ganIzIng] company and that Is what you get.” - sErgE KoginsKy, cEo, hta group

“we’ve had a good mIx of speakers, some of them vIsIonary.” - daniEl stErn, dir, u-connEct

Page 3: Digital Africa Summit Day Three

QUiCK CHat

overview of 8th annual digital africa summit

It was time well spent. There is more experience coming into play. Last year was more about planning and things that need-ed to get done like laying infrastructure. This year we are hearing more about what worked and what didn’t – feedback from the field as it were. We’ve made progress. There is more maturity in the industry.

salient points emergingThe 7th Annual Digital Africa Summit was

my first one. The sessions were helpful in strengthening convictions I had about my company. This year was significant because I interacted with people who have gone through similar experiences that we are now going through in Nigeria. A case in point was, MD Uganda Africa Online, Jo-seph Barungi’s discussion on Africa’s inter-net revolution. It is encouraging to know you are not alone. African operators now know what needs doing and hopefully we can pull our governments along.

going forwardDiscussions about building capacity as

eloquently discussed by His Excellency the vice President of Uganda, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, in his opening remarks must clearly separate increasing African con-tent from building software and hardware capacity. When we talk about reaching rural communities with ICT we must consider:

i) First building capacity in ICT soft and hard ware.

ii) Providing affordable digital access to rural communities and finally,

iii) Increasing the relevant content

The ENERGYBOX is an electrical storage facility manufactured by ENERGY-GO and exhibited at the summit by HITECH AF-RICA, the official reseller. The gadget has an off-line generating system, output volt-age of up to 230 vAC, power of between 600-1000 Watts, Integrated charger 150 Watts, Seales maintenance free battery and EC-Conformity. It is effective in small and medium sized activity (and that can go as far as construction), medium electrical level charging and social activity. The best feature about this device however, is the fact that it is mobile. You can charge and carry it wherever you are going, even in the middle of the sea, you’ll have power. Solutions, right?

DIGITAL AFRICA SUMMIT 9-11 MARCH 2010 - Engaging positivE changE

CooLest gadget

Media Partners

the new vIsIon is the leading english daily newspa-per with several editions from monday to friday aimed at the discerning reader seeking bal-anced and accurate informa-tion.

ntv, uganda’s leading tv station went on air in no-vember 2006. the station airs across uganda on both free-to-air as well as on dstv channel 141. ntv uganda is a subsid-iary of nation media group, east and central africa’s largets media group.

the observer, your paper of record, is one of uganda’s most professional newspapers. started in 2004, it has become a primary source of credible news and information for many ugandans. It is published every monday and thursday and has a strong online presence as well.

www.newvision.co.ug

www.ntvuganda.co.ug

www.observer.ug

“I was Impressed by the range and depth of topIcs presented by the dIffer-ent speakers. It was also encouragIng that much of the materIal was new and many Ideas were put on the table; It represents opportunItIes” - rachEl paynE, googlE inc country managEr

gErald iluKwE,

cEo, galaxy BacKBonE plc

Page 4: Digital Africa Summit Day Three

Pictorial

digital africa summit 9-11 march 2010 - ENGAGING POSITIvE CHANGE

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1. A cross section of delegates at the opening day 2. Neemish and Zimbabwe’s ICT PS Samuel Kundishora.jpg 3. Delegates exchange contacts during a social break on the last day 4. Delegates access the internet at the MTN Internet centre during the summit 5. Ethiopian Minister of Transport and Communication, Hon Deriba Heiy Kuma addresses the Charity Dinner where he was Chief Guest. 6. Mobile Monday’s Jari Tammisto chats with Dillon at dinner. 7. Managing Partner Neemish Ladwa chats with Mr Ruyooka Ambrose, Commissioner IT and IMS in the ICT Ministry of Uganda. 8. A delegates takes a penalty kick during the Charity dinner to support the Bukenya Foundation presentations 9. Delegates enjoy just one of a number of sumptious lunches.