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Women in Technology – Negating the ‘Bro-Culture’

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Africa Tech Festival Africacom

Men need to be part of the solution for there to be more women in technology – AfricaCom and AfricaTech set the stage for necessary robust discussion in 2020.

An exceptional line-up of speakers at this year’s Africa Tech Festival, are set to raise awareness around the different challenges facing Africa

London, 26 August 2020 AfricaCom and AfricaTech have become synonymous with industry change in the digital infrastructure and emerging technology space, their evolution, as well as robust debate over the years.  In 2020, that tradition continues.  One such innovation that is sure to attract its share of controversy and attention, will be the second ‘Women in Tech Takeover’, that returns to the AfricaTech Centre Stage and the AHUB as part of the new AccelerateHER programme of content.

This year’s events will take place virtually as part of the newly launched Virtual Africa Tech Festival, from 09 -13 November 2020. Being a fully-fledged virtual event, organisers expect the Women in Tech and AccelerateHER sessions to be very well attended, as there remains an ongoing battle for women to be seen as equals in terms of leadership and investment in the male-dominated tech space.

Setting the scene, and as outspoken and thought provoking as ever, Lorraine Steyn, international speaker and the pioneering founder of South Africa’s first female-led software development shop – some 35 years ago – observes that: “The digital world is the epitome of democracy… it doesn’t see people through rose-tinted glasses. Yet, I’m always amazed to see male delegates at conferences leave the hall en masse when women tech experts stand up to deliver their presentations around Women in Tech.

“This is what is broken. All those men have decided that the issues that women in tech face are not their issues.  But, that’s the point.  It is just as much their responsibility to create an inclusive environment, as it is for women.  We need to see the dominant players in the IT field realize that by excluding women from this space, we all lose.”

Steyn’s annoyance is shared by colleagues around the world and given that AfricaCom and AfricaTech are online, the 2020 instalment is expected to attract many more female business and tech experts.  It’s also an ideal opportunity for men to remain in the ‘room’ and get to grips with understanding that as part of the problem, they are also part of the solution.

“This year’s event is ground-breaking as we move from face-to-face networking and presenting to purely virtual conferencing, but it’s the perfect opportunity for the industry to live its own message of embracing digital disruption,” says Tom Cuthell, Event Director of Africa Tech Festival.

The technology in place for both AfricaCom and AfricaTech will ensure that attendees get more out of this event than ever before. People can live stream any event from wherever they are in the world, replay sessions for clarity or in the event of scheduling conflicts, and actively comment and view remarks from other delegates during presentations. There is also streamlined communicating, networking and one-one-ones in private meeting rooms to create that virtual event X-factor.

“Virtual exhibitions and conferences are actually going to grow in popularity when people get comfortable with the technology and how it will help them to not miss anything while, at the same time, putting them easily into contact with the right people, quicker.”

Speakers expected to take to the podium at AfricaCom and the Africa Tech Festival, include:

  • Pamela Coke Hamilton, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre who will be part of a panel: Mobilising Africa’s tech industries to fight the COVID-19 outbreak
  • Dorothy Tembo, Deputy Executive Director at International Trade Centre who will participate in a Fireside Chat: The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): implications for tech
  • Aissatou Diallo, Country/ Regional Portfolio Manager at International Trade Centre (ITC) UN/WTO who will speak at the AHUB on Youth, Tech and the AfCFTA
  • Aubrey Hruby – an adviser to investors with interests in African markets. She is a Senior Fellow at the Africa Center at the Atlantic Council and the co-author of the award-winning book, The Next Africa, who will chair day two of keynote presentations
  • Rapelang Rabana – Founder and Chair of Rekindle Learning, who has been named Entrepreneur for the World by the World Entrepreneurship Forum and selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum who will air her views on a panel: Bridging Africa’s digital skills gap: Enhancing human capacity to realise Africa’s 4IR potential.

The truth is that women have been pioneers driving the industry since the early days of the original green screen and dotmatrix printers.   Take Margaret Hamilton, lead developer on Nasa’s Apollo Space programme, who was responsible for flight software that helped us land on the Moon. Yet, today, 76% of bums on seats are male… and their pay checks are 25% higher than that of their female counterparts.

One of the major counter arguments against promoting women in the industry seems to revolve around the perceived impact on the bottom line, but here’s where women actually stack up well against the boys. Studies show that tech businesses led by women yield on average 35% higher returns on investment than companies run by men – and this on the back of picking up 50% less venture capital funding than their male counterparts. 

The gender gap shouldn’t be seen as a form of competition, but rather as an opportunity for vital collaboration. Something that is keenly required now more than ever. 

To register for a FREE delegate pass – click HERE

For further information please visit the 2020 website

Media accreditation is now open: https://registration.gesevent.com/survey/06t0kg4kkf2ei

For other media enquiries, interviews and/or images please contact:  Kaz Henderson kaz@networxpr.co.za or call on +27 (0) 82 339 1199.  Please note that media registration will open next week. 

We’re a diverse group of industry professionals from all corners of the world. Our desire is to provide a high-quality telecoms publication that caters to an international market, offering the latest and most relevant telecoms information to businesses, entrepreneurs and enthusiasts.

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Monty Mobile: The First Company in the Middle East & Africa to Provide 5G End-to-End Solutions for Telcos

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5G End-to-End Solutions for Telcos

Monty Mobile provides an in-house, cost-effective, well-optimized 4G+ and 5G end-to-end wireless solution serving both small and large-scale mobile and fixed operators targeting both urban and rural areas.

Moreover, operators are offered flexible payment plans for up to 5 years, first payment after 3 years, helping them stay ahead of their competitors.

This on- cloud solution guarantees improved scalability, mobility and security in addition to great savings on both CapEx and OpEx.

With this solution, Monty Mobile is introducing an alternative to Tier1 Telecom Suppliers such as Ericsson, Huawei, Nokia, and ZTE.

“The best is yet to come; stay connected!”, says Mountasser Hachem, Founder & Chairman of Monty Mobile.

More details regarding this full end-to-end solution will be disclosed in the Inside Telecom magazine next month in an exclusive interview.

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Africa’s Leading Independent Telecommunications Services Provider, Phase3 Telecom moves onto Digital Connectivity Enterprise in Nigeria and West African Sub-region

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The upgrades will cover security features, performance enhancements. agile update capacity and quality delivery mechanisms.

ABUJA, Nigeria, March 10, 2022: Africa’s leading independent aerial fiber optic network infrastructure and telecommunications services provider, Phase3 Telecom, is enabling advanced digital connectivity, improved performance and enhanced network security for enterprise. This drive is targeted at cost efficient and unified network endpoint management for businesses in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.

This development is also designed to amplify Phase3 enterprise value active network deployments for MSMEs, large scale corporates and institutions.

According to the company’s executive chairman – Stanley Jegede, “this expansive service optimization is targeted at improved coverage on Phase3 network routes through Africa as well as to assure solutions that help businesses  transform and scale seamlessly.

He says, “Phase3 current network upgrades is an ongoing exercise and will cover security features, performance enhancements, agile update capacity, and quality delivery mechanisms for enterprise segments. Especially in the areas of productive work-from-anywhere or do-business-from-anywhere and digitized remote connectivity solutions”.

In addition to the company’s focus to increase enterprise based networks data handling capacity and their capability to access data within dissimilar sources faster vis-a-vis smarter, as today’s global clime demands.

Jegede, in his concluding statement says, “Phase3 layered digital capabilities will both enhance Phase3 network architecture and compliment legacy connectivity service experience in remote locations with significant Phase3 presence and network access points.

About Phase3 telecom

Phase3 Telecom is a leading independent fiber optic infrastructure with Points-of-Presence (POPs), colocation, and NOCs in Nigeria. Issued a National Long Distance Operator (NLDO) license in 2003 by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and with a vibrant as well as a dedicated team of experienced professionals, we are the network of choice for high-performance, data-intensive and low latency connectivity that span dedicated internet access, MPLS VPN, metro ethernet, wide area network solutions etc. We currently operate across the ECOWAS region and international markets through strategic partnerships that allow us to connect our clients across 400 cities worldwide. And ours is an extensive and secure network with end-to-end capabilities that service providers and businesses can rely on to scale, manage costs and assure efficiency. As our network continues to evolve into other layered service streams, including cloud-based and network security solutions – our invaluable clients will continue to remain the core of every investment that we make; innovation that we create; and technology that we adopt during the 4th industrial revolution to position us as the network of the future.

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Digital Therapeutics Revenue from Health Insurers to Reach $8 Billion Globally by 2026

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Hampshire, UK – 14th March 2022: A new study from Juniper Research has found that digital therapeutics revenue from health insurers will increase to $8 billion by 2026, up from $1.1 billion in 2022; representing a growth of 610 percent over the next four years. Digital therapeutics are clinically validated software programs for the treatment of chronic medical conditions, either independently or in conjunction with other therapies.

The report found that digital therapeutics facilitate the proactive mitigation of chronic medical conditions before they require costly interventions; enabling health insurers to reduce long-term costs per patient. However, it highlighted that these savings will be limited to health insurers in developed regions, where consumer devices and digitalized health infrastructure are ubiquitous. As such, it noted that health insurers in Africa and Latin America will contribute less than 2 percent towards health insurer-led digital therapeutics revenue in 2026.

A new research, Digital Therapeutics & Wellness: Key Trends, Business Models & Market Forecasts 2022-2026, identified that insurers will also benefit from an ongoing shift among digital therapeutics vendors towards engagement- and results-based payments. It recommends that therapeutics providers looking to leverage this trend prioritize the development of performance benchmarks, as demonstrating improvement and preventing patient abandonment will become a direct monetary issue.

Machine Learning to Move into Advisory Role as Liability Issues Emerge

The report forecasts that the number of people using digital therapeutics will increase by 381% over the next four years, and recognizes that machine learning will be key to this growth by facilitating advanced data analytics, remote patient monitoring, and real-time conversational coaching. However, it cautioned that an ongoing lack of standards surrounding the use of machine learning within digital therapeutics will result in vendors limiting its role in their offerings.

Research author Adam Wears explained: “As developers and healthcare providers increasingly grapple with issues of liability and malpractice, machine learning will transition from a patient-facing role to a diagnostic tool offered through provider-facing dashboards; to be used by clinicians and specialists in a manner akin to traditional computer-aided diagnostics.”

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