Ericsson has announced the sponsorship of the second edition of AHUB at AfricaCom open in parallel with the AfricaCom conference. The 3 day conference will take place from 15- 17 November 2016 in Cape Town. It is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to take their startups to the next level and for investors to make a meaningful contribution towards economic development.
Tumi Chamayou, Vice President for Strategy and Marketing, Ericsson sub-Saharan Africa, says: “The technology industry has and will continue to play a part in the African continent’s economic transformation. Last year’s AHUB sought to fill the gap that exists between innovation and funding. We are committed to encouraging innovation and promoting ICT as a positive change enabler in our workplaces, schools and homes”.
According to the 2016 Ericsson Mobility Report, mobile broadband subscription growth is expected to increase four- fold in the Middle East and Africa due to a young and growing population, rising GDP and smartphone uptake. So while tech startups struggle to monetize their business in the early stages, the Ericsson AHUB will help create a platform to help tech-startups present their solutions to a range of investors.
Two years ago, AfricaCom and Ericsson showcased future-shaping demos that helped operators improve network performance, expand revenue streams and enhance the customer experience. At the event, Ericsson showcased the Radio Dot System highlighting how operators can grow their business enterprise with an innovative in-building architecture that delivers high-performance mobile coverage. In addition, Ericsson showed how the experience-centric managed services model, aligns service delivery with the operator’s strategic and business objectives securing a customer experience-centric operation that proactively drives business innovation.
This year, Ericsson commits to drive the Networked Society in Africa through innovation by showcasing talent from around the continent. Entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to share ideas and scale up their business opportunities while venture capitalists can identify new innovations in the technology landscape.