Additional Speakers for GSMA Mobile 360 Series – Africa

The GSMA on Monday announced additional speakers participating in the 2016 Mobile 360 Series – Africa conference, which will take place 26 – 28 July at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

In addition, the GSMA confirmed the start-up companies that will be presenting as part of Jumpstart programme on Tuesday, 26 July.

“Mobile 360 – Africa is now only two weeks away and we are looking forward to convening players from across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries to discuss the unprecedented opportunity that mobile provides to improve and enhance social and economic development in the region,” said Michael O’Hara, chief marketing officer, GSMA.

At Mobile 360 – Africa, CEOs and senior executives from leading mobile companies and from players across the digital ecosystem will address the most pressing mobile trends and issues.

New speakers confirmed to join the existing line-up at Mobile 360 – Africa include: Paul K. Bomani, General Manager, Projects Division, AIM Group; Esther Maina, Head of Strategy, AIM Group; Daddy Bujitu Mukadi, Chief Regulatory Officer, Airtel Africa and Thomas Losendjola, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and New Technologies (PTNTIC), Democratic Republic of Congo.

Others are, Taha Jiwaji, Founder and CEO, Bongo Live and Co-Founder, Kinu; Nisha Malhan, Senior Manager, Policy, Mozilla; Thecla Mbongue, Senior Analyst Middle East and Africa, Ovum; Chantal Umutoni Kagame, Deputy CEO, Tigo Rwanda; Nick Hurd, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for International Development, UK; Jack Rabah, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Middle East and Africa, Wikimedia Foundation and Edward Anderson, Senior Technology and Innovation Specialist, World Bank.

The event will comprise thought-provoking keynote addresses, fireside chats, and panel discussions. With the overall event theme of “Accelerating Access for All to Create a Digitally Inclusive Society”, each session will tackle a different aspect of the empowerment story, such as “Developing Ecosystems for Future Digital Services”, “Creating Opportunities for Local Content” and much more.

In addition to the main conference, Mobile 360 – Africa will highlight the initiatives and activities undertaken by the GSMA Mobile for Development programme.

The event will focus on the GSMA’s work to increase access to and use of life-enhancing mobile services; acceleration of socioeconomic improvements for the underserved, especially women, rural and youth; and particularly digital and financial inclusion and identity for the unregistered.

Jumpstart Pitch Platform Participants Selected
Jumpstart is in its second year at Mobile 360 – Africa and links the mobile industry with entrepreneurs and start-ups from across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The event combines a keynote session and an energetic pitch stage, with an informal networking reception.

The start-up pitch platform will showcase companies including AlemHealth, Edutariffa, KopaGas, mPaper, WeFarm and Wonderkid, who will each give a brief five-minute pitch to a panel of operators and to the audience. The pitch platform offers a unique opportunity for start-ups to pitch for potential business and possible partnerships with mobile operators.

Mobile 360 – Africa Registration
Registration for Mobile 360 – Africa is open; individuals wishing to attend should visit www.mobile360series.com/africa/#register.

Support for Mobile 360 – Africa
Millicom is the Platinum Sponsor for the event, Ericsson, Jumo World and Vodacom are Gold Sponsors, and Avanti, CM Groep, and TransferTo Inc. are Silver Sponsors for Mobile 360 – Africa.

Huawei is the Global Industry Supporter for the full Mobile 360 Series of conferences taking place throughout 2016.

Mobile 360 – Africa is also fully endorsed by the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) and the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA).

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with almost 300 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors.

The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as Mobile World Congress, Mobile World Congress Shanghai and the Mobile 360 Series conferences.