Minister Mondli Gungubele of the Department of Communications & Digital Technologies, South Africa, delivers a keynote at Africa Tech Festival, envisioning Africa's digital transformation.

He highlights Cape Town's role as a digital hub and addresses the continent's digital divide. Gungubele emphasizes infrastructure development, including fiber optic networks and cloud services, to advance digital connectivity. He outlines South Africa's initiatives and invites partnerships for local manufacturing of devices.

The Minister concludes with optimism for collaborative efforts in Africa's digital future.

SPEAKERS:

• Louise Claassen - Co-founder & Creative and Technology Lead, ORBmersive
• Alex Masu - Head of Africa and Middle East - Network Investments, Meta
• Brian Afande - Co-Founder & Managing Director, BlackRhino VR

DESCRIPTION:

The chances are that if you’re interested in technology, you’ll have heard the term ‘Metaverse’ recently. The Metaverse, like much of the tech that enables it, remains at a nascent stage of development, but estimates have put its revenue potential at $800B by 2024. Many global tech brands are already betting big on the idea, and the dream of an immersive, business-ready 3D world is very much alive. This session looks past the hype to explore real-world application of a new virtual universe for business and consumer, dives into how Africa aims to build its own unique space in the Metaverse and how pioneers are leveraging new tech to make this vision a reality.

Philip Stupak, Assistant National Cyber Director for the Office of the National Cyber Director, discussed cybersecurity's role in enhancing connectivity and achieving collective goals at Africa Tech Festival 2023. He highlighted the Digital Transformation with Africa initiative (DTA), aiming to expand digital access and literacy in alignment with the African Union's strategy.

Stupak emphasized the U.S.'s commitment to building resilient networks and advocated for a Zero Trust architecture, prioritizing verification over blind trust. He underscored the Biden-Harris administration's strategic changes and stressed the importance of public-private collaboration in mitigating cyber risks. Stupak urged for the growth of national cyber workforces and digital literacy to ensure future resilience.

At Africa Tech Festival, Huawei's Sub-Saharan Africa Region President outlines the company's strategy for fostering digital and energy revolutions on the continent.

They highlight ICT advancements such as 5G, cloud, AI, and solar energy driving productivity. Huawei emphasizes the importance of digitalization and interconnected infrastructure for Africa's leapfrog development. Initiatives in cloud migration, AI, and green energy are discussed, along with plans to train 100,000 digital talents by 2026.

The session showcases Huawei's 8-Point Sustainability Plan and commitment to a digitally prosperous and sustainable Africa.

Hans Hen Haaste, Director of Sales for Intelsat, discusses the company's involvement as a featured sponsor of the Africa Tech Festival and its sponsorship of the Changing Lives Awards. He highlights Intelsat's long-standing mission to connect unconnected communities, particularly in Africa, where the company has been providing satellite solutions since 1964. Haaste elaborates on Intelsat's focus on creating sustainable connectivity solutions across various sectors, including education and rural development, to ensure long-term impact. The conversation also touches on Intelsat's upcoming 60th anniversary and its ongoing commitment to advancing connectivity across the continent.

Dave Barnett, Head of SASE and Email Security EMEA at Cloudflare, discusses the company's strategy for Africa, focusing on empowering businesses with advanced, affordable technologies. Cloudflare is committed to enhancing digital security with zero-trust models and integrating AI to protect against cyber threats. Their SASE solutions are aiding African businesses in transitioning to cloud-based models. With a presence in 26 African cities, Cloudflare values learning from local partners to tailor services for the continent, partnering with firms like eNetworks, Demios, and CloudHop to better serve the African market.

Take a look at an interview with Silvio Do Carmo, Vice President of Sales for Africa at PCCW Global, as he discusses the company's role as a tier-one network provider with over 3,000 points of presence across 160 countries. Silvio introduces Console Connect, their SDN platform that automates digital services and enables customers to deploy services globally within minutes. He also reflects on the significance of the Africa Tech Festival, where PCCW Global's team connected with key customers, suppliers, and partners, emphasizing the event's value for business growth and networking opportunities.