Author: Digital World

ITU Telecom World 2019, the global tech event for governments, corporates and small- and medium-sized enterprises, opened its doors today to four days of exhibition, debate, networking and awards amongst some of the most influential names from across the information and communication technology (ICT) sector.

Hosted by the Government of Hungary, the event was launched in the presence of Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary, alongside Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary-General, Francis Gurry, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization, Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Information and Communications, Vietnam, together with high-level government leaders and representatives, regulators and leading industry Chief Executive Officers.

“Together, I am confident we will be able to expand avenues for cooperation and ICT infrastructure investment, make ICT applications and services more relevant, secure and affordable, and give people the tools and skills they need to navigate and succeed in the digital economy,” said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao, welcoming delegates to ITU Telecom World 2019 and back to Budapest, four years after ITU Telecom World 2015. “Together, we can and will bring about connectivity that matters, the theme of this year’s event − here in Hungary, the region and the rest of the world.”

​​Addressing delegates via a video message, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres spoke of the importance of new technology to save lives: “There is no doubt: innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence, 5G and the Internet of Things can help us achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and improve the lives of all. We must harness the opportunities they bring, while mitigating the risks.”

Francis Gurry, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) said that the theme of this Forum, Innovating together; connectivity that matters, “illustrates the relationship between ITU and WIPO, but also a much deeper truth and that is that ideas and development are nourished by connectivity. Connectivity with others inspires innovation. Telecommunications are a fundamental driver of the innovation in the world today.”

Speaking on making a new telecom infrastructure ready for a digital economy and a digital society, Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Information and Communications, Vietnam, Host Country for ITU Telecom World 2020, said “Telecom is now becoming ICT, and ICT is becoming a new infrastructure for a digital world. To make this happen, we need more innovations in technology, in policy and in strategy. This is a long way to go. And we should go together.” Addressing the auditorium, Hungary’s Prime Minister H.E. Viktor Orbán spoke of his country’s rapid digital progress and shared his future vision for Hungary, a thriving digital economy at the heart of Europe, saying “We are not trying to escape the future, we see the changes that are becoming new challenges for Europe. We do not want to shy away from creating this new world, we want to participate and be winners of this exciting challenge shaping history. We cannot only plan the future, we can realize it as well.​”

As Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary General, reminded the audience at the first Forum Summit session “We meet at a moment when emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, IoT and 5G can enable innovation and transform life. This event is a catalyst for global action, enabling government, companies, investors and relevant stakeholders to can join forces to stimulate ICT infrastructure development, strengthen demand side and expand connectivity to everyone, everywhere.”

The challenge of making that connectivity meaningful – relevant, affordable, accessible to all, and fit for purpose – was the focus of this lively and far-ranging session. In his opening keynote, Hamad Al Mansoori, Director General of TRA, United Arab Emirates, expressed his concern that new technologies may bring more people online, but the gap between the developed and undeveloped worlds will not be bridged.

“We need cooperation and synergy to innovate and bridge the worlds,” he said, calling for public and private sectors to work together for the development of humanity and “profit from the enthusiasm of youth, outsourcing, collaborative programmes and open societies to provide solutions.” Collective intelligence is the key factor in development, because “one simple stone does not build a wall. We need to collect good creative ideas, innovate together, use collective intelligence, use lots of stones to build a common house and a bright future for us all.”

Outlining key elements of Saudi Arabia’s 2030 Vision, Abdulaziz Bin Salem Al Ruwais, Governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission of Saudi Arabia, echoed the need to adopt a new competitive paradigm as the pace of technological development continues to bring dramatic change: “We can no longer rely on natural resources, but on our intelligence and our brains…to change to a bright future.”

Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau, ITU, had the perfect example of that dizzying pace of change: “At ITU Telecom 1995, only 0.3% of the world was connected to the internet. This year it is more than 50%. Nothing has ever rivalled the internet in terms of opportunities and potential.” But even though millions more are connected, we need to refocus our efforts to ensure that connectivity is meaningful, functional and supported by digital skills.

Francis Gurry, Director General, World Intellectual Property Organization, spoke of the importance of innovation at the centre of competitive advantage. Now that technology is moving so quickly, we are confronting risks and threats, such as AI deep fakes, “a real problem for the integrity of information that we have around the world.”

 “Industry wants to make money and governments can’t keep up to speed with changes,” he continued, so it is often left to scientists to set the parameters of responsible innovation. He called for more risk mitigation measures and a greater consciousness and care when advancing so quickly with technological developments.

For Amanda Nelson, CEO, Vodafone Hungary, meaningfulness should be at the core of business strategy. “Doing good and doing good business are one and the same thing,” she said, emphasizing that it must at the heart of the business rather than just on-top CSR measures. The starting point for Vodafone, she explained, was being creative in finding solutions that are scalable – and therefore monetizable – and investing in those which really make a difference in people’s everyday lives.

Peter Halacsy, Chief Technology Officer & Co-founder of Prezi, pointed out that as a Silicon Valley-style tech business, the aim is to make software and mobile apps to keep users online – and using: “You call it connected, but you are addicted. We are developing drugs for the next generation.”  Policy makers in government and in the family – the parents – need to put regulation or limits on the use of technology.

Bogdan-Martin agreed that market forces can create great positive transformation, but emphasized the need for all stakeholders across society to be at the table.  Collaboration means a holistic approach across all areas of government and society, ensuring the digital skills necessary to participate in society are available to all, including women, the disabled and young people.

Nelson agreed, outlining some of Vodafone’s programmes aimed at bringing young people and women into tech. Inclusivity and collaboration are key. “It is a pivotal time for this industry, this is a very exciting time and we have to be humble and work together… get the right brains in the room and people thinking about real problems to solve” as new technologies bring as yet unimaginable new possibilities.

Halacsy focused on the critical role of education in making connectivity meaningful. Not just digital literacy and public awareness, but also digitizing education itself, empowering students to be part of the conversation and adapting to the ways in which young people think, communicate, chat and collaborate – making it fit for future life.

Two major trends will shape that future, according to Gurry: “the general dematerialization of value as intellectual capital becomes more important than physical capital and innovation moves more and more into the digital space,” and the geopolitical shift to the east. The paradox is that the unprecedented openness of technology has heralded a world that is closing in ever more.

For the panel, major catalysts to connectivity and digital transformation include advanced manufacturing and robotics, a whole government approach with digitized government services, and the precision manufacturing and personal education enabled by Industry 4.0. A holistic approach to development means convincing finance ministers, in particular, of the overarching importance of ICTs to all sectors of the economy and society, moving ICT investment up the priority ladder.

Halacsy concluded with his wish that “connectivity could make us happier” – and the unconnected coming on board now could learn from the experiences of the developed world, leapfrog developmentally and not make the same mistakes. It is our collective responsibility, the panel agreed, to ensure that connectivity is not only available to all, but useful to all.

Although digital technology doubtless brings with it a host of benefits, it still presents very real concerns in terms of trust in technology, privacy and cybersecurity. Moderator Damon Embling of Euronews asked a diverse panel drawn from across international organizations, regulator and consumer groups: do consumers really trust in a digital future?

The issue of trust resonated throughout the session. For Helena Leurent, Director-General, Consumers International, although consumers are dipping their feet more and more into the digital economy, buying, selling and trading online, they still do not feel entirely comfortable within it, and are still unsure of what they can trust. Consumers find the whole idea somehow “creepy”, she explained, and it is this sense of creepiness that could prevent the economy expanding.

For ITU Deputy Secretary-General Malcolm Johnson, there is an increasing awareness that digital technologies are essential for meeting the SDGs, therefore it is important that all citizens are able to take advantage of them. Trust is one of the reasons people are not connected. ITU is addressing this from a security point of view, through its work on standards, and has a large private sector membership who are driving standards work- along with an impending new membership category, SMEs. “We have to make sure people are comfortable using technology,” he told delegates.

Politicians recognise the need to keep people safe, said Jeremy Godfrey, Chair of the Board of Regulators, BEREC. People need to be protected from harmful content. Businesses also need to be able to trust that they can be treated fairly and that data is being used appropriately, although “we don’t yet have in place tools to do that,” he explained. Building trust also poses regulatory challenges; the pace of regulation does not necessarily match the pace of innovation, and regulators may not necessarily possess all the knowledge needed. “A light touch, principle-based regulation” is called for, he explained.

Flexibility in policy terms is also key for OECD, whose “Going Digital” project makes the case for a flexible approach to policy making, according to Endre Spaller, Vice-President, Government IT Development Agency, Ministry for Innovation and Technology, Hungary and a member of the OECD’s Committee on Digital Economic Policy. A stronger policy collaboration is also essential, he explained, as the digital transformation affects many different aspects of society. Governments and stakeholders must work together to build a digital future.

Putting consumer rights at the heart of tech innovation

Technology needs make sure it focuses on rights of consumers, said Leurent. “What about applying innovation to consumer protection tech?” she asked delegates. Protecting consumers yet at the same time making sure regulation doesn’t stifle innovation is a delicate balancing act as overregulation could mean that “any innovative product goes through so many checks it never actually sees the market,” said Godfrey.

Consumer and user groups need to be part of the stakeholders dialogue, said ITU’s Johnson, also in terms of standards development, where input is essential. “We need international standards to ensure security and trust” he explained.

Building a thriving digital economy

Spaller outlined OECD’s three main areas of cooperation in order for the digital economy to thrive: firstly, in terms of data, measuring the value of and unleashing the full potential for free flow of data; secondly, equipping populations with the right skillset and training to flourish in a digital economy; and thirdly, measuring the digital transformation. Here OECD has created its own measurement system.

The benefits that the digital economy has already opened up should not be overlooked, said Godfrey: “Consumers can now buy and sell from traders across the world, share reviews and experiences with other consumers,” which is hugely beneficial.

Despite the many digital benefits many of us currently enjoy, education amongst consumers is still essential to help them navigate and flourish in the digital economy. Consumers need to be educated, to understand what their rights are and what they need to look out for, explained Leurent.

Panellists then took questions voted on by the audience, which spanned areas from speeding up policy making, maintaining trust among consumers to regulating tech “giants.” Quizzed on the issue of whether excessive regulation could potentially hinder growth of digital innovation in developing markets, Godfrey explained that it was not just in developing markets but everywhere, although developing markets can potentially learn from the developed world. “Just because we have sold our souls and given away so much data we have regretted it does not mean that everyone else should go this way,” he said. Being a latecomer in the game could even be an upside, according to Daniel Pataki, Vice President of Regulation, GSMA, as maybe by the time developing countries are grappling with privacy issues, they may be able adopt practices already in use elsewhere.

Future perspectives

Embling summed up by asking panellists for their views on future trends and digital priorities.

Spaller would like to see a future where digitization is not just a goal, but lives with us. Collaboration will be key, according to GSMA’s Pataki, across the full digital ecosystem. Ensuring that consumers are fully involved in the digital future and that their voices are heard is crucial for Consumers International’s Leurent. Regulators must continue to work using existing tools, explained Godfrey, but debate on how we can put in place new regulation will also be important. However, we need to be realistic about the limitations of what regulation might achieve, he added. Wrapping up the session, Johnson stressed the need for a platform where we can all exchange views, inviting delegates to join the ITU’s next AI for Good Global summit.

Ghana Day was celebrated in style at the Ghana Pavilion with a happy crowd enjoying food and drink and the presentations from government, regulatory and industry representatives.  Initiatives supporting e-government and digital education were in the spotlight and it was clear that SME innovation was having an impact on Ghana’s dynamic ICT sector. ​

Ghana Day was celebrated in style at the Ghana Pavilion with a happy crowd enjoying food and drink and the presentations from government, regulatory and industry representatives.  Initiatives supporting e-government and digital education were in the spotlight and it was clear that SME innovation was having an impact on Ghana’s dynamic ICT sector. ​

A very diverse panel, spanning Government, major tech players, SMMEs, agencies and chambers of commerce debated key stumbling blocks and evolving opportunities for tech SMMEs in South Africa, moderated by SITA’s Sithembele Senti.

In her opening keynote to a packed room, H. E. Stella Tembisa Ndabeni Abrahams, Vice Minister, Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal Services, South Africa explained how we must realise the crucial role of SMMEs, in the ICT ecosystem, and “what it is that we can do, as governments to make sure  this industry becomes a booming industry.” Outlining some of the key challenges entrepreneurs face; funding and access to markets and opportunities, she explained that the Government knows they face challenge, and has made sure to pass an SMME strategy to meet these challenges. When SMMEs try, big business tries, too. Crucially, innovations must meet the needs of African markets. SMMEs don’t lack capacity, she explained, just resources, and big industry needs to be able to support SMMEs. In skills terms it’s a question of having the right skills, and understanding of what skills are needed- not just those who build tenders, she explained “We are building technopreneurs, not tenderpreneurs.”

Setting the context for discussions, Senti outlined how the public sector ICT environment is structured into two “worlds,” spanning past, present and future. The first is the legacy of current corporations and legal structures, supported by a competent pool of the original equipment, with software manufacturers who are largely multinational/foreign. SMMEs need to be able to gain access into this world. Specific contracts- those under 30m rand- need to be designated for SMMEs, with a share of the above 30m contracts also subcontracted to SMMEs. The second world will be the one that will “take us to the 4^thindustrial revolution or digital economy, the world envisioned through Vision 2020.” This will function as a platform where all citizens will be able to participate. An open innovation world. In this world, he noted, there is no tender- a major pain point for SMMEs highlighted at the session and echoed by the audience- it is a level playing field.

Panelists shared insights on areas from skills training, to navigating the world of tender, and encouraging SMME involvement in the digital economy.

For Muzi Makhaye, Chairman, ICT SMME Chamber, accessing the market and changing mindsets are key concerns. Today SMMEs may well have the innovations “but they are not trading them because the market is reserved for certain people.” Navigating through challenging tender processes can also prove difficult, as so many conditions must be met, that many SMMEs find themselves effectively shut out “We need to collapse this tender system” he explained. Here the private sector, big business “is duty bound to support SMMEs, to let them flourish and then procure their services.” We must collapse this silo mentality, he explained.

For Barlow Manilal, CEO, Technology Innovation Agency, there is no doubt about the potential of SMMEs but there are a number of key areas where they need support. Crucial to helping them is creating the right enabling environment- a view echoed by Cisco’s Houvet-, starting in terms of the legislative environment. More liberal policies are needed, as well as understanding the “dna of SMMEs” “Let’s not encumber them, let’s let them be agile,” he said. South African SMMEs tend to still be tentative in putting themselves forward, but they don’t need to be “You don’t need to play second fiddle to anyone in the world.” he told them. Mindsets also need to be adjusted to embrace the concept of failure- at present we still have the mindset that failure is fatal but it isn’t, it’s part of the development process. Funding is also a key concern, and we need to be patient and give SMMEs time to grow. The approach to funding should be “high risk, low return, patient capital”

Being able to rate and categorize SMMEs is vital, and a comprehensive list/database of SMMEs would be a valuable tool, according to Charmaine Houlet, Public Policy Director, Africa, Cisco – a sentiment echoed by Vice Minister Abrahams, as often crucial information on SMMEs is missing or unavailable. As well as knowing what SMEs are operating, it would also help in terms of sharing info with SMEs- those registered are able to get access to crucial info on areas such as routing, tenders or switching  but there are still many who don’t make it into the mainstream and therefore don’t get rated or get to access opportunities. ”We need to look at how do we define and categorise SMMEs and start addressing gaps,” she explained- but we are getting there, she added.

Business must stop paying sentiment and truly believe in SMMEs, explained Seacom Chief Development Officer, Suveer Ramdhani. Echoing a key topic raised by others he noted the importance if education “we need to fix education,” – as so many leave school unprepared. Creativity and innovation must be fostered in education.

Education and training are also key to Lindiwe Mokone, Vice President- Marketing, Screamer Electronic Services, sharing perspective as an SMME- particularly so that equipment repairs can be done in South Africa. As she explained, their contracts with OEMS do not allow them to repair equipment from major equipment manufacturers, this is shipped out. We have the capabilities to train, she explained, so it doesn’t need to be shipped out.

For Microsoft Account Team Lead, Ayanda Ngcebetsha, a key issue is taking successful case studies and take them to the mainstream? To do so, Microsoft has a huge IP core cell programme, to help and support those with IP solutions. Echoing other panelists on the subject of skills in a digital economy he explained that industry 4.0 requires “a new generation of skills.”

For Clive Charlton, Solutions Architect, Amazon Web Services, skill shaping and access to market are core issues for Amazon. It’s not just the initial support that’s vital for SMMEs, he explained, but nurturing them through a 3-5 year process. Access to a market place is critical, and they offer a market place for SMMEs offering SaaS, as well as awareness building through Amazon’s media and social media, providing exposure to startups to potential customers. “We see ourselves as an enabler for SMMEs” he explained.

Questions from the audience on navigating tenders, brain drain, opportunities in the Eastern Cape wrapped up a lively debate session.

The main challenges facing start-ups, the importance of global Awards programmes, such as the ITU Telecom World Awards, and the role of governments were among the key areas discussed by a diverse panel, spanning the full SME ecosystem, ably moderated by ITU’s Jose Maria Diaz-Batanero.

Panelists highlighted what they saw as the main stumbling blocks facing start-ups as they grow. For Deanne Friis Smith, Director Entrepreneur Search & Growth, Endeavor South Africa, it boils down to 3 key areas; access to capital, to markets “especially if they are scaling outside their own geography.”

Access to talent is also a key concern, according to Kerry Petrie, General Manager, Silicon Cape.  Gary Stewart, Director of Telefónica Open Future and Wayra UK also explained how management talent is also important. The “Founders dilemma” illustrates this issue, someone who does well as an entrepreneur – possibly innately a disruptor- may not necessarily be the best manager once the company scales up. De Wet Swanepoel, Founder and CEO, Listen Longer explained how although some people maybe great in the start-up phase, they may not be the best to take it to the next level. His company had recently brought in a director of business for this purpose, he explained

Friis Smith agreed. At each stage SMEs almost need to asses if they have the skills capability to take their company to the next stage, she explained. “Hire above what you can afford to pay,” she cautioned delegates “Hire for a global team, not for where you are today.”

The panel also highlighted the issue of having the right network to provide support, as according to Friis Smith “We need to get better at providing the support structure so people aren’t so isolated”. For Petrie, it’s also about “identifying potential mentors who are relatable to you, and leveraging their networks and experience.”

The panel – who included Huajing Jiang, CEO, Shanghai TERJIN Information Technology Co, winner of last year’s prestigious ITU Telecom World Awards, considered the role of Awards programmes. For Jiang, although the application and pitch took a lot of work, he considered himself very lucky to win, he explained. Winning the Award, and having international recognition it provided have shown a good image of his company to an international market and helped win a bid from China’s Ministry of Public Security “It helped us stand (out) in the market” he explained. Friis Smith’s Endeavor South Africa also runs Awards, offering chance to join an exclusive, prestigious network. Nevertheless, there are a lot of Awards programmes, said Petrie, and SMEs need to be and make sure they gain the right amount of exposure. “Know what you want from the Award,” advised Friis Smith. Providing a contrasting perspective from the Silicon Valley side, Stewart explained that “What’s important for us is what’s happening in your business.” Sometimes he sees start-ups with a load of Awards- while they can certainly help exposure, “At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is your metrics.”

Working with major players such as international organisations, corporates and governments may sound like a dream scenario for an SME, however, due to speed and bureaucracy in obtaining work “To rely on them solely would be a folly” said Sabelo Sibanda of Tuseapp. According to Stewart, lots of start-ups don’t know how to pitch to corporates, they need to make sure they do their homework properly before pitching. “If you are a corporate and a middle manager, you need to understand exactly how an SME can help meet your KPIs” – something SMEs need to bear in mind when pitching.

Governments need to support SMEs, although this is done with varying degrees of success. Stewart praised the UK government’s approach- which he had recently had occasion to observe- in that they give start up tax breaks, allowing companies to invest in start-ups instead of paying as tax. Whilst the UK government approach is to “stay out of the way” of start-ups, they do also use their convoking powers at the same time to help them. Governments don’t always need to write the cheque he explained, they can support SMEs by, say, using their convening power on the SMEs behalf. The Chinese Government also encourage start-ups and SMEs through tax reform, explained Jiang.

Governments must take care not to sell entrepreneurship as a silver bullet, cautioned Petrie, when a government proclaims that its SMEs will turn the country around, and then they must go and make it happen. For her this is an incredibly risky endeavor “To sell entrepreneurship without putting in place a more diverse group of stakeholders to engage around it is risky.”

Summing up, Diaz-Batanero asked the panel to share their top message for SMEs.

Keep alive as long as possible, said Jiang, and be sure to watch your cash flow. For Friis Smith its key to focus on what’s your core business, be bold and audacious, flexible and adaptable.

There are similarities across ecosystems, explained Stewart, even in different countries. We are all trying to get entrepreneurship right and keep hope alive. Everyone agrees that entrepreneurship is the only way to grow the economy, so all stakeholders should come together to help achieve this. Grow your social capital if you are an entrepreneur, and if you are a government or corporate you must provide this, said Petrie.

SMEs need to focus, said Swanepoel, to build themselves a great team. Surround yourself with those that are better thank yourself, he suggested, and make sure you are partner-centric.

Sibanda wrapped up with an interesting point to ponder. A turning point for him was when he realized he shouldn’t fall in love with the product but with the customers, for it’s the customers that are key.

Innovation is the key enabler for accelerating digital transformation and realising the fourth digital revolution, with all the tremendous benefits it promises countries around the world. But what is the fourth digital revolution, is it relevant for now or the future – and is it real or imaginary?

Moderator Dr. Eun-ju Kim, Chief, Innovation and Partnership Department, ITU, posed a provocative question to the panel of industry and government experts exploring the key dynamics behind building a digital innovation ecosystem to support digital transformation and bridging the innovation divide.

Abdoulkarim Soumaila, Secretary-General of the African Telecommunications Union, emphasized the fundamentals: “We cannot do AI if we do not have access to the internet. We can’t do IoT if we don’t have internet. We are now speaking about 5G, and we can’t do any of the applications if we don’t have any way of accessing the internet.”

“Industry 4.0 is not a destination, it is a journey,” said Bocar A. Ba, CEO, Samena Telecommunications Council. It is simply the intelligent networking of machines and processes supported by information technology – but without ubiquitous broadband connectivity, no applications, communications or smart technologies will be of any use. Investing in digital infrastructure is therefore an absolute priority, and will only be achieved through public and private sector collaboration, cooperation and partnerships.

For Lauri Oksanen, VP Research and Technology, Nokia Corporation, it comes down to three main technological disruptions happening simultaneously: connectivity improvement as we move towards 5G, cloud computing with storage and processing ability, and then augmented intelligence to make decisions based on all the day. Earlier industrial revolutions led to very concrete benefits in terms of productivity, growth, wealth and wellbeing for nations and their citizens. Can fourth industrial revolution do this too?  Yes, but only if the digital infrastructure is in place, and at scale. “The opportunity of digitization is to make all industry sectors more efficient, but it has to be diffuse. It’s not enough to have one factory or port or harbour digitized, we have to cover large areas to have the networking effect and the productivity improvement, “ he said. After all, Industry 4.0 is not about digital per se, but about bringing the benefits of digital to other, physical industries to increase economic and social growth.

The key to deploying that digital infrastructure is working across boundaries, sectors and industries, and building multi-stakeholder partnerships, agreed the panellists. And for Williams, it has little value within the development context and Africa if it does not bring benefits to the community. If people don’t understand how digitalization can meaningfully transform their lives, “It becomes innovation for innovation’s sake.”

But with connectivity, the cloud, and relevant solutions, there is a fundamental opportunity to transform government in terms of efficiency and effectiveness, moving to evidence-based data to improve policy decisions from municipal to provincial and national levels.

Speaking of the need to develop innovative ecosystems in both advanced and emerging markets, Dr. Martin Koyabe, Manager and Head of Technical Support and Consultancy, Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, stressed the need for political will to ensure enabling structures, supportive policies and regulation. He reiterated the importance of addressing real, local needs when targeting investment and innovation focus.

Industrialization is key for Africa, said Dr. Olga Memedovic, Deputy Director, Trade Investment and Innovation Department at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. But just how that should happen in the digital era is uncertain, given that transposing ideas and initiatives from advanced markets and nations is challenging in the African context.  Understanding the extent of the Industry 4.0 paradigm shift is vital: it will industrialize and network all vertical sectors and services, impacting also on science, technology and innovation systems. Digital infrastructure will need digital skills, new business environments and innovation hubs focused on productive activities. We need to be aware, she said of “blurring boundaries between the sectors and being prepared to create knowledge-sharing platforms for different stakeholders.”

Partnerships with academia are also important, building new curricula to support digital skills and educate the next generation of data scientists and solutions architects.

Gwenael Prié, Digital Task Team Leader, Agence Française De Développement, noted how low funding is for African start-ups compared to other continents, outlining how his organization is tackling this shortage through a combination of direct financing, investing in funds dedicated to financing innovative start-ups on the African continent, and financing sustainable innovation development including incubators for policy, expertise and seed funding. “Information needs to circulate between the ecosystem to provide and facilitate openness,” he said.

We must have the right regulation and ecosystem, according to Director of Partnerships at theGlobal Manufacturing & Industrialisation Summit, ElodieRobin Guillerm, as Industry 4.0 will impact the future of children, how and what they study, where they work and live. The technologies may be applied principally in the manufacturing sector, but the impact will be felt throughout all aspects of our lives. “The engagement of the population is essential, so that when we are talking about innovation, people are not afraid of what the future will be like.”

Finding a balance between regulation and disruptive innovation is not easy – but there must be a sweet spot somewhere between, said  Lance Williams, Provincial and Local Consulti, SITA allowing for both the agility of innovation and sufficient governance to avoid chaos in critical applications.  Soumaila was not convinced: “Give latitude to anyone to innovate and create… and then regulate afterwards” to avoid blocking the benefits of innovation.

“Innovation is like cholesterol,” said Ba, “There is always the good one and the bad one”. Innovation should apply not just to technology, but to regulation, funding mechanisms, business models and redefined roles of stakeholders through the entire value chain.

Industry 4.0 is not imaginary – but the road towards it will be long and at times painful. If we can improve the lives of citizens, it will be worth the pain.

Connecting Africa means connecting locally, and it means connecting in rural and remote regions. But even with an array of technologies new and old – including fixed, wireless, and satellite networks such as high throughput (HTS), non-GSO and High Altitude Platform Satellites (HAPS) –it won’t happen without a new approach to partnerships across sectors, ministries and industries -and political will.

“Technology will not happen in a vacuum. The reality is that we need significant political will to make technology work”, said Akinwale Goodluck, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, GSMA. “The things that are required for a better future, for connecting everyone, will not happen without the right policies and regulatory mechanisms.”

Existing preconceptions on the challenges of connectivity in Africa need to be re-examined, starting with the fact that in some areas coverage is as high 90%, but adoption only 10%.  “We find ourselves as an industry now building a lot of infrastructure in remote places, but the reality is that we are not seeing concomitant adoption. The coverage is there, but people refuse or are unable to connect due to issues of affordability, content, digital literacy and consumer awareness,” said Goodluck.

To make new technologies work for us we need to rethink efficient deployment of Universal Service Funds, which have until now focused in the Sub-Saharan region on addressing the capex issues. But as Goodluck pointed out, “The reality today dictates that capex is no longer the biggest hindrance to bringing connectivity to remote areas: it is instead opex, providing power and the daily running of the base station.”

Governments, OEMs and operators must work together more effectivity to address this barrier – as well as those of affordability and relevant content. And there’s a pressing need for a change in attitude on spectrum allocation in the Sub-Saharan region, rather than creating an artificial scarcity in order to drive up prices.

There is a further misalignment between population and coverage, where operators are not always deploying to the most populated rural areas due to legacy information and political considerations. Changing attitudes to rural and remote solutions – and using new technologies – can bring real success:  “Let’s change the narrative on rural telephony not being profitable and there being no future in rural access and rural services.”

For Tony Azzarelli, VP Global Licensing and Spectrum Affairs, OneWeb, that starts with understanding exactly where and what services are required, particularly in a continent as geographically diverse as Africa. Different stakeholders have different requirements, from governments looking to communicate with citizens and push out services to rural and remote areas, to businesses need to reach rural areas, to trade and exchange information and citizens wanting access to information, data and communications. “Once you understand the needs, then you realise that one type of tech to bridge the digital divide is not enough – you have to marry different technologies, fibre, wireless, satellites, HAPS, and work together to connect the unconnected.”

Government and industry also need to work together to enable newer technologies to be deployed in rural and remote areas, addressing in particular government investments, subsidies and harmonized regulations. “Satellite suffers a lot from barriers to entry, high cost fees and other legal requirements that often slow down the adoption of these new technologies. Many regulations are obsolete and opaque, irrelevant to new technologies,” said Azzarelli, giving the example of countries such as South Africa or Australia where the thousands and thousands of satellite terminals needed to provide low cost connectivity would require either a blanket licence or even an exemption from licencing altogether.

Satellite solutions can provide low cost connectivity in rural areas, whether high throughput for point to point connectivity, broadcasting and streaming, or the high capacity and low latency required for backhaul LTE and 5G solutions. And as 5G has been designed for cities and urban areas, it won’t be possible to implement rural and remote regions without satellite connectivity.

Mark Rotter, Treasurer, Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA), reminded the panel that there will always be places which are hard to reach and understand, and the reality of connecting on the ground is tough. Sustainable business models ensuring affordable connectivity with low ARPU solutions are critical, as USFs cannot contribute endlessly: “It’s important to work out the maths in terms of capex, opex and overheads.”

Veni Shone, President, LTE Product Line, Huawei, proposed bringing costs down by choosing a major technology, deploying widely and benefiting from economies of scale. As power is such a fundamental issue in Africa, Huawei are using AI to reduce power consumption and maximise the opex structure together with ecosystem partners for each component, targeting a reduction of 20% in power consumption per year. Innovative partnerships should embrace infrastructure sharing, open access, community networks and new verticals such as energy, education or healthcare.

Preventing spectrum shortage is key to enabling new technologies and expanding connectivity. There are, according to Rotter, options in a number of bands and TV white space allowing us to think about spectrum smartly and to share it dynamically. The DSA is working on local community ideas with wireless access providers associations. Goodluck called for policy makers and regulators to facilitate access to spectrum, encouraging people to share and trade spectrum on industry-friendly terms and conditions.

“It’s not just connectivity for infotainment, we need to move also to production,” Huawei’s Shone reminded the panel. More spectrum is essential to devising business models for production tools in Africa. Azzarelli agreed that spectrum sharing should be the main objective of any regulator, reducing the price for poor communities should move away from the spectrum auction model which can inflate prices.

New approaches to spectrum sharing, regulating and auctions are vital, but depend upon on thing: politicians need to understand the relationship been spectrum and connectivity.   And it is not just ICT ministers, but finance ministers who need to be made aware, to avoid inhibitive prices impacting affordability of services in the country.

Local solutions to local problems means taking agriculture digital in Africa and many parts of the developing world. The variety of innovative digital apps and solutions on display here addressing the needs of smallholders, farmers and the agricultural community is impressive.

Take Farmline, a social enterprise leveraging technology and data to connect farmers to vital information, services and products to increase profits and productivity. The Ghanaian company uses its proprietary Mergdata platform to transform small-scale farmers into successful entrepreneurs, delivering important data such as weather alerts, good agricultural practices and nutrition tips, financial literacy and market prices to farmers using voice and SMS – along with products such as fertilizers and seeds, and financial services. Farmline also aggregates data on farmer profiles, maps and audits, offering a platform for agricultural metrics and best practices.

Or Brastorne Enterprises, focusing on developing ICT solutions relevant to the local environment in Africa, where there is often bandwidth limitation and data is expensive. mAgri is a USSD mobile application allowing farmers to market their products and services across the country, connecting to updates from the Ministry of Agriculture, merchants such as the Botswana Meat Commission, other farmers, buyers and sellers throughout Botswana and beyond. Adding the ability to request short term loans from financial institutions will lead to a comprehensive agro-digital ecosystem.

Also on show is Farmcrowdy,  Nigeria’s first digital agriculture platform connecting small scale farmers across Nigeria with access to finance sourced from individuals and corporates, as well as expertise on sustainable, efficient farming practices.  It allows investors to select the farms they would like to sponsor, providing a safe and convenient platform to engage with the agricultural value chain – and, of course, empowering rural farmers with the necessary resources to utilize untapped farmland, expand farming operations and produce more food to feed the growing population.

Using IoT and the big data it produces in the agricultural context is the basis of the Agricultural Information Management System developed by ezfarm from South Korea; and of WAZIUP, on show at the Smart ABC pavilion and deploying low-cost IoT technologies and open data platforms in rural and remote communications in Africa and beyond.