Kenya has played host to the International Telecoms Week (ITW) and DataCloud Summit in a monumental event held at the Radisson Blu hotel last week.
The summit brought together over 3, 000 delegates, where over 150 influential speakers from across the globe shared actionable insights on leveraging 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence for competitive advantage.
ITW Africa 2023 was hosted in Nairobi, Kenya, where over 800 participants from 57 countries were in attendance. The conference was in May this year nominated for the best new conference award (over 600 attendees) at CGN’s Conference and Events Awards.
Speaking as the Chief Guest during the official opening ceremony, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy (MICDE), Dr. Margaret Ndung’u, affirmed that Kenya’s Digital Economy will play a central role in positioning the Country as a Regional leader in digital innovation, connectivity, and service delivery.
“Kenya is building a Regional Connectivity Hub for East Africa and beyond by leveraging on the nation’s strategic location, investing in robust digital infrastructure, and implementing progressive Policy frameworks, “said Dr. Ndung’u.
The CS further highlighted the significance of ITW in uniting global ICT industry players to harness the power of digital innovation in unlocking new opportunities for growth and prosperity across the African Continent.
On his part, the Principal Secretary for the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy, Eng. John Tanui, stated that hosting ITW 2024 is a big opportunity for international investors to identify vast areas of investment in Kenya’s digital landscape.
The PS, who emphasised the importance of cross-industry collaboration, also noted that with 93 per cent renewable energy, Kenya is a great destination for sector players keen to achieve their sustainability course successfully.
“Hosting International Telecoms Week—ITW in Kenya provides a major platform for international investors to engage with Kenya’s growing digital ecosystem. As a premier event in global telecommunications, ITW connects leaders from across the digital infrastructure spectrum, including satellites, subsea cables, data centres, and more. The event fosters networking opportunities with global industry experts and showcases innovations driving the future of global communications.
Also in attendance were TECHORACO Chief Executive Officer Ms. Rose Irving, ICT Authority CEO Mr. Stanley Kamanguya, OGW, ITW Managing Director Ms. Annabel Helm, and several other industry leaders.
In his remarks, the ITW Product Manager, Mr. Chris Davison, observed that the ITW 2024 Conference themed, “Accelerating Connectivity in Africa” is a platform that brings together key individuals from the universal Tech industry for networking to chart the best way forward in growing the digital ecosystem.
By Rachael Kilonzo
