Africa Tech Festival 2024 – The Home of AfricaCom, AfricaTech & AfricaIgnite is part of the Informa Tech Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 3099067.

Africa Tech Festival 2024 – The Home of AfricaCom, AfricaTech & AfricaIgnite
Event dates: 11-14 Nov 2024
Exhibition Opening Dates: 12 - 14 Nov 2024Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

INDUSTRY NEWS & INSIGHTS

Welcome to the Africa Tech Festival's News & Insights page, your premier destination for the latest in African technology and telecommunications insights. In collaboration with industry leaders Omdia and Connecting Africa, we are thrilled to bring you an unparalleled collection of exclusive content. Dive into our curated selection of webinars, in-depth interviews with visionary speakers and industry pioneers, comprehensive recordings of panel discussions from previous editions of the event, and bespoke research and other content.

The Latest News

Omdia Report: Africa Tech Trends and Predictions

Africa is set to undergo a digital transformation with ICT playing a major role as the primary driver of economic growth.
The continent has seen 12% growth in fixed broadband subscriptions over the year to 2Q23 following an environment stimulated by continued investment, in fiber and fixed wireless broadband networks (4G and 5G based), and support the constantly growing appetite for data services, including video streaming.

PicknPay's Tech-Driven Retail Revolution with Deven Moodley | Africa Tech Festival Interview

We recently caught up with Deven Moodley, representing PicknPay, one of South Africa's retail giants!

In this exclusive conversation ahead of his sessions at Africa Tech Festival, Deven shares insights on how PicknPay leverages disruptive technologies to revolutionize the retail industry.

Digital Transformation with Africa - Free Webinar

Wednesday, August 2, 2023 - 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM (UTC+01:00)

Learn about Africa's digital transformation and tech trends, engage with representatives from the biggest upcoming tech event taking place in Africa, and hear from a tech business that benefited from expanding to the African tech market.

100 Most Influential African Leaders in Tech & Telecoms Report

Discover the top African leaders in technology and telecommunications!

Africa's talent is leading the way for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. 

In this report, we highlight and honour 100 of the most influential leaders and innovators in the continent's tech and telecom industries.

Download The Global Women in Tech 2023 Report

A deep dive into challenges & opportunities for women’s tech careers and women-led enterprises across Asia, Europe, and Africa in this global report. Discover the evolution of the gender pay gap, discrimination, influencing factors, and the current state.

ARTICLES

Key Sectors Driving Africa's Digital Transformation

Africa's digital transformation is rapidly evolving, driven by key sectors such as digital financial services, e-commerce, and connectivity. 

According to Interpol, the combined GDP of Africa has increased more than fivefold, from USD 695.88 billion in 2002 to USD 2.98 trillion in 2022 and is predicted to exceed USD 4 trillion by 2027.

Here are a few of the key sectors driving Africa's digital transformation, taken from the recently published report, The Role of Cybersecurity in Safeguarding Africa’s Digital Transformation.

Bridging the Digital Divide: 15 Influential Telecom Leaders

According to industry projections by Telecom Review Africa, Africa's telecom market is expected to increase by a staggering $2.24 billion between 2020 and 2024. These leaders we're about to showcase are instrumental in driving this remarkable growth.

They've not only earned their place in the 100 Most Influential African Leaders in Technology & Telecommunications 2023 Report but are also shaping the future of communication technology on the continent.

15 Visionaries Leading Africa's Fintech Revolution

We're excited to introduce you to 15 pioneers, leaders and innovators whose work is reshaping Africa's burgeoning fintech landscape!

These visionary leaders are at the forefront, transforming financial services across the continent, and as a result, have earned their place in the 100 Most Influential African Leaders in Technology & Telecommunications 2023 Report

Meet the 17 Visionary Leaders Fueling Africa's Startup Revolution

We are thrilled to introduce you to a selection of visionary founders and CEOs who are harnessing the power of tech and are the driving forces behind some of Africa's most promising startups.

Their journeys are stories of resilience, passion, and unwavering determination, showcasing the vibrant spirit of entrepreneurship that defines Africa's tech landscape.

Driving Change Across Africa: 6 Impactful Non-Profit Leaders

In the dynamic landscape of African technology and telecommunications, a group of visionary leaders stand out for their impactful contributions to the non-profit sector.

These individuals are not just shaping the industry, but also making a tangible difference in the lives of communities across the continent.

Leading the Way: The CXO of the Year Award Nominees

The Africa Tech Festival Awards proudly introduce you to the extraordinary leaders shortlisted for the prestigious CXO of the Year Award

This accolade is a testament to their exceptional contributions to their industries as they build dynamic teams, set new industry standards, and deliver a clear vision in the ever-evolving business landscape of Africa. 

Among these remarkable nominees are prominent figures from technology, telecommunications, and finance, each embodying the spirit of innovation and leadership in their own way.

Innovation for Impact: Unveiling the Pioneering Companies Shortlisted in the Africa Tech Festival Awards

In an era of transformative technological advancements, innovation stands as the catalyst for change, and Africa is at the forefront of this revolution.

The Africa Tech Festival Awards proudly present the Innovation for Impact Award, a testament to the groundbreaking work of industry leaders who are harnessing the power of innovation to disrupt traditional approaches, introduce novel solutions, and create tangible value for businesses and individuals across the continent. 

Today, we shine a spotlight on the five exceptional companies shortlisted for this prestigious accolade, each of whom has made remarkable strides in the pursuit of innovation with a lasting impact.

Unveiling Creative Visions: Meet the 5 Shortlisted for the Creative Visionary Award

The Creative Visionary Award, stands as a testament to the remarkable talents and visions of media, broadcasting, and entertainment professionals across the African continent. 

Here are the five exceptional individuals who have been shortlisted in this category of the 2023 Africa Tech Festival Awards. From radio broadcasters to reality TV stars and a TikTok influencer, these visionary creators have captivated audiences with their unique perspectives and creative genius.

Shaping a Sustainable Future: The 6 Shortlisted for the Sustainability Champion Award

In the unique context of Africa, where the pursuit of sustainability carries profound implications for development and prosperity, the Africa Tech Festival Awards are proud to present the shortlist for the Sustainability Champion of the Year Award.

These six organisations are leading the way in the development and integration of sustainable energy solutions across the continent.

Advice for Entering the Awards From Last Year's Award Winners

We caught up with a few of our winners from the 2022 Africa Tech Festival Awards to ask them for their advice to those thinking about entering the awards this year. They've provided practical tips for optimising your applications, as well as explaining the benefits and outlining their strategies.

Interview with Winner of the Changing Lives Award 2022: Hormuud Telecom

The Africa Tech Festival's Changing Lives Award serves as a beacon, illuminating the path towards a more accessible and inclusive digital world. In last year's award show, Hormuud Telecom were crowned the winner in this category, recognizing their outstanding commitment to this noble cause. 

5 Questions With 2022 Rising Star Award Winner, Joseph Lumbahe

Almost a year has passed since Joseph was crowned the winner of the Africa Tech Festival 2022 Rising Star Award. We caught up with him to explore the impact of his success at the awards and discover what he's been up to since. 

In this exclusive interview, we delve into Joseph's inspiring story, shedding light on the immense potential of Africa's tech landscape and how one individual's brilliance can contribute to driving innovation on the continent.

Exclusive Interview with Start-Up of the Year Award Winner: Womenovate

Womenovate was crowned the winner of the prestigious Start-Up of the Year Award at the Africa Tech Festival Awards in 2022.

A beacon of empowerment, Womenovate's Founder and CEO, Motunrayo Opayinka, took centre stage to showcase the organization's unwavering commitment to fostering female inclusion in STEAM fields. We caught up with her a year later to discover what the organisation has been up to since.

NuRAN Wireless: Bridging Boundaries & Beyond - A Year After Winning Connectivity Project of the Year Award

In this exclusive interview, we reconnect with NuRAN Wireless to uncover the strides taken since their win in the 2022 Africa Tech Festival Awards to discover how their win has propelled the organisation forward, as they continue to blaze a trail in the dynamic landscape of telecommunications, bringing communication possibilities to even the remotest corners.

5 African Businesses With a Social Impact That We Love

In honour of Valentine's Day, the Africa Tech Festival Series team decided to shine a spotlight on a handful of exceptional African businesses with a social impact we absolutely love.

Mobile Identity: Providing MNOs the Opportunity to Drive Brand Engagement with African Consumers

Across Africa, mobile technology will prove crucial in the coming years. As many places across the continent are without steady Internet or Wi-Fi, mobile is the de facto connected device.

5 Start-Ups in Africa to Watch in 2022

The 4IR represents a new era of innovation in technology – one that’s enhancing human-machine relationships, unlocking new market opportunities, and fueling growth across the global economy. Discover the start-ups from across Africa's tech ecosystem that are at the forefront of this revolution.

6 of the Most Innovative African Fintech Companies

Africa's fintech market is booming, and it shows no sign of slowing down. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of tech start-ups in Africa tripled to approximately 5,200 companies. Just under 50% those companies are fintechs.

Africa Connectivity Outlook: 2022 and Beyond (SES)

With around 33% internet penetration, Africa is the least connected continent on earth. Naturally, connectivity varies by country, but universally, the greatest gap is between urban and rural areas. Whilst 50% of urban dwellers are connected, this figure drops to 15% in rural areas. This is the lowest percentage of any region in the world.

Mobile Communications in Africa (Rodhe & Schwarz)

Thanks to mobile communications, more and more Africans have access to people, markets and information, even in remote regions of the continent. Rohde & Schwarz mobile network testing equipment and services are being used to improve network performance and quality in 21 African countries.

7 African FemTech Startups to Watch: IWD 2022

Femtech (female technology) is a term used to describe health software and tech-enabled products designed with women’s health and wellbeing in mind. And it's a recently coined term, contrived in 2016 by Ida Tin, a Danish entrepreneur who created a period and fertility-tracking app.  

New Green ICT Investments Happening Across Africa

Over the past decade, regions across the African continent have experienced rapid economic growth and improving social conditions. In line with this, there has been a dramatic spike in energy usage, presenting a daunting question: can African nations find sustainable and, crucially, climate-friendly ways to meet their growing energy needs?  

State of 5G and AI Services in South Africa

Enterprise adoption of 5G and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) technologies is rapidly taking off in South Africa as business activities and processes require transformation to increase resilience and competitive differentiation.

Tech Innovations to Reduce South Africa's Youth Unemployment Crisis

We sat down with Youth Employment Service's CEO, Dr Tashmia Ismail-Saville, to discuss the importance of digitalisation, disrupting conventional training & using tech to reach youth during COVID-19.

REPORTS

100 Most Influential African Leaders in Tech & Telecoms Report

Discover the top African leaders in technology and telecommunications!

Africa's talent is leading the way for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. 

In this report, we highlight and honour 100 of the most influential leaders and innovators in the continent's tech and telecom industries.

Download The Global Women in Tech 2023 Report

An exclusive report on women’s tech careers and women-led enterprises across Asia, Europe, and Africa, covering factors that influence women's tech careers, barriers and opportunities, and the evolution of the gender pay gap and gender discrimination.

Africa Tech Trends and Predictions: 2022 & Beyond (Omdia)

Omdia analysts have compiled an e-book bringing together highlights from research impacting the African landscape. Discover the current state of play across the telecommunications industry, predictions on the future of 5G, as well as technological advancements in the agriculture sector.

Gen Alpha: An Influencing Power Driving CX (Infobip)

Generation Alpha are children born after 2010, ranging from 0 to 12 years old. They are the largest generation of future consumers and are expected to have the greatest spending power in history.


Closing the Gap: Accelerating Women in STEM [eBook]

We've gathered a selection of inspiring women from leading organisations, including Netcampus, GirlCodeZA, Digital Council Africa, CSIR, The AI Review, Procter & Gamble, life.file, and more to share their insights and practical advice on how to excel in the industry.

The State of Connectivity in Africa in 2022 Report

Discover the challenges and disruptions to connectivity in Africa, the latest connectivity trends and opportunities in each region, as well as current connection speeds and adoption rates in each country in this interactive, free-to-download report.

2022 Trends To Watch: Middle East & Africa Report

This free-to-download report contains key trends for the Middle East Africa service provider market in 2022, covering 5G monetization, growth opportunities in broadband with FWA, the evolution of MFS, and the emergence of Green ICT products and services.

VIDEOS

PicknPay's Tech-Driven Retail Revolution with Deven Moodley | Africa Tech Festival Interview

We recently caught up with Deven Moodley, representing PicknPay, one of South Africa's retail giants! In this exclusive conversation ahead of his sessions at Africa Tech Festival, Deven shares insights on how PicknPay leverages disruptive technologies to revolutionize the retail industry.

Leadership Council Interview: Amadou Diallo

We caught up with Amadou Diallo, the Chief Executive Officer, Middle East & Africa at DHL Global Forwarding to discuss future tech trends, the industry, Africa Tech Festival and its newly formed Leadership Council.

Leadership Council Interview: Richard Cazalet

Watch this interview with Richard Cazalet, the Exec: Strategy and Transformation at Telkom SA to discover his thoughts on future tech trends, the industry, Africa Tech Festival and why he decided to join its newly formed Leadership Council.

Top 2022 Africa Tech Festival Sessions

Take a look back at some of our favourite 2022 sessions!

From cybercrime, to fintech, Africa's fourth industrial revolution, future tech trends and telecommunication innovations, there's something for everyone.

Connecting Africa Podcast: S2 Ep. 1 – Talent Wars

Hosts Tobi Lafinhan and Paula Gilbert welcome new co-host Matshepo Sehloho to the team and they get into a wide-ranging discussion about tech skills in Africa on a range of topics, including:

Africa's talent pipeline, the demand for digital skills, and how to better upskill youth and bring education systems up to date with innovation, and Africa's startup ecosystem.

How Tech is Paving the Path for Female Founders

Join three leading women in business discussing the best technology tips and tricks they have learnt on their journey to success

This discussion took place virtually at Africa Tech Festival 2021. In 2022, the event will be taking place LIVE in Cape Town.

Africa's Fintech Revolution Explosion

Watch the full discussion from Africa Tech Festival 2021, as our experts from Launch Africa Ventures & Knabu unpack the growth of lending and finance start-ups, current investment trends & challenges, and telecom giants building new networks and upgrading existing facilities. 

Highlights from 24 years of AfricaCom, anchor event of Africa Tech Festival

Highlights from Africa Tech Festival 2021, the largest live tech event in Africa with more than 400 visionary speakers and over 16 premium conference tracks, each with razor-sharp focus, exploring the hottest connectivity and enterprise tech trends.

The Future of Satellite and 5G in Africa

In this FastChat interview, Connecting Africa Editor Paula Gilbert is joined by Semin Hassanaly to discuss how hybrid Satellite 5G networks can enable new business cases for MNO's

Emerging Trends in African Satellite Connectivity

In this FastChat interview, Connecting Africa Editor Paula Gilbert is joined by Pieter-Paul Mooijman to discuss satellite’s role in Africa’s digital transformation.

Robots, Risk, Creativity: How to build the workforce of the future

In this exclusive interview for Africa Tech Festival, Sterling Bank Plc's CFO for Corporate and Investment Banking, William Anwana, shares his top tips to help you build and motivate the workforce of the future.

AFEST | The Official Networking Party of Africa Tech Festival

Taking place in Cape Town, AFest is back in 2022 for an unforgettable evening of music and entertainment and your opportunity to network with thousands of industry leaders.