Agenda at a Glance

The Connecting West Africa two day, multi-streamed conference agenda addresses the hottest topics facing the digital ecosystem in West & Central Africa. Constructed in consultation with the market, the conference agenda is delivered by a speaker panel of senior level Operators, OTT service providers, Content providers, Regulators, Analysts and International solution providers.

 

Day 1 – Tuesday 11 June 2013

 

Meeting the Needs for Reliable and Affordable Connectivity in West Africa

 

9.15
Informa Market Overview & Forecasts on Connectivity Developments

Thecla Mbongue, Senior Analyst, Informa Telecoms & Media

 

9.40
Interactive Panel

Meeting the needs of all stakeholders: Perspectives from operators, alternative players, enterprises, consumers

Asif Aziz, Group Marketing Director, Expresso Telecom

Tidjane Deme, Lead for Francophone Africa, Google

Chams Diagne, Africa General Manager, Viadeo

Massokhna Kane, President, SOS Consommateurs

Papa Thierno Diop, Head of department Strategic Plan and Studies, Sonatel

 

11.45
Keynote: Connecting West African markets to the digital age

PJ Phike, CEO, MTN Guinea Conakry

 

12.10
Interactive Panel

At what price point will international bandwidth be affordable in West Africa?

Moderator:

Amadou Makhtar Fall, International Policy Analyst, Sonatel, & Co-founder, ITmag.sn

Panellists:

Saiful Alam, Group Chief Commercial Officer, Expresso Telecom

Thierry Tomiet. Director Africa Region, Telecom Italia Sparkle

Birago Diène Moctar Beye, Managing Director, Wholesales Business Unit, Sonatel

El Hadji Babacar Ba, Regulatory Affairs & Interconnect Manager, Tigo Senegal

 

Fibre Developments

 

14.00
Panel: Making the most of cable networks to improve communications in West Africa

Robert Aouad, CEO, Isocel Telecom, Benin

Adefemi Ojo, Head of Network Operations, Starcomms, Nigeria

Edward Sesay, Directeur Général Adjoint, Sierratel, Sierra Leone

 

The Evolving Role of Satellite

 

14.30
Adapting to new conditions in  the satellite market in West Africa

Gary Daly, Sales Director- Africa, O3B Networks

 

15.30
Refreshments & Exhibition Visit

 

Answering the Growing Demand from Enterprises & Governments

 

16.20
Providing connectivity to answer the specific needs of vertical markets

Malick Thiam, Chief Marketing Officer, Expresso Senegal

 

16.50
Understanding the connectivity needs of enterprises to deliver the right services

Speaker to be announced soon – check website for updates

 

17.30
Networking Drinks Reception


Seaside networking drinks reception with majestic ocean view

 

Day 2 – Wednesday 12 June 2013

 

Partnerships and Models to Develop Connectivity Projects in West Africa

 

9.30
The role of ECOWAS in promoting connectivity developments in the West African Region

David L.B Kamara, Director, Transport and Telecommunications, ECOWAS

 

9.50
Investment Models:  Making partnerships work between various investors

Harbir Singh Nat, Principal Investment Officer, Telecom, Media and Technology, Sub-Saharan Africa, International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group)

 

10.10
Debate: Improving partnerships between operators, regulators and other stakeholders to promote network developments

David L.B Kamara, Director, Transport and Telecommunications, ECOWAS

Harbir Singh Nat, Principal Investment Officer, Telecom, Media and Technology, Sub-Saharan Africa, International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group)

 

10.40
Refreshments, Exhibition Visit & Speed Networking

 

Cost-Efficient Networks & Infrastructure

 

11.30
Outsourcing network management to reduce costs

Wilgon Berthold Tsibo, Chief Technical Officer, Equateur Telecom Congo

 

11.55
Deploying and maintaining a cost-effective mobile backhaul network

Mutaz Elbadawai, Chief Technical Officer, Expresso Senegal

 

12.20
Examining infrastructure sharing models to reduce OpEx

Chuck Green, CEO, Helios Towers

 

12.45
Networking Lunch

 

Connecting Landlocked and Rural Areas

 

14.00
Operator viewpoint: Providing services to rural customers

Samba Sène, Director, Technocentre Africa, Orange CI

 

14.30
Managing projects in remote areas

Malick Thiam, Chief Marketing Officer, Expresso Senegal

 

15.00
Q&A: Bringing higher capacity to landlocked areas

 

15.30
Closing Remarks & End of Conference

 

Find out more – Download the conference agenda here