Iris De Brito, Senior Researcher with the West African Digital Governance Forum, UNU EGOV, gave an exclusive interview with Telecom Review Africa, with a focus on exploring the key challenges that developing countries face in making ICTs accessible in remote rural areas. She detailed the role of ICT in empowering disadvantaged individuals and communities and contributing to their social and economic inclusion. Also, she gave her perspective on the impact of digital technologies on socioeconomic development, particularly for women and girls in remote rural areas of developing countries.
Exclusive Interviews
TEDMOB Reigns Supreme in the Digital Era
TEDMOB, with its wealth of experience in services, communications, and digital solutions, is advancing ahead of local and Gulf region competitors. In an interview with Telecom Review, Mario Hachem, TEDMOB's co-founder and CEO, discussed the company's strategy to ensure a superior corporate and individual experience amid challenges and opportunities in the sector.
Christine Thembo: ‘Cybersecurity Should Be a Top Priority for Many Countries This Year’
Christine Thembo, a cybersecurity consultant at Traverse Security, granted Telecom Review Africa an exclusive interview. The discussion revolved around the evolving threat landscape, emphasizing that cybersecurity has become a paramount concern for African governments and the private sector in 2024. Thembo explored the significance of implementing a National Cyber Strategy for countries and highlighted the valuable contributions of women in cybersecurity based on her experience in the field.
PCCW Global: Empowering Global Connectivity
Telecom Review had the privilege of conducting an insightful interview with Sameh Sobhy, the Managing Director Middle East, Turkey & Africa at PCCW Global. Sobhy shed light on the immense impact of the Console Connect platform in facilitating seamless connectivity between regional and global customers, while highlighting the challenges and opportunities that arise. Additionally, Sobhy shared valuable insights on PCCW Global's role in supporting the digital transformation of the region's wholesale telecoms industry. Lastly, he discussed the company's targeted markets for expansion and the rationale behind their strategic choices.
Keeping Ahead: Doreen Mokoena's Governance for Cybersecurity Resilience
Telecom Review Africa conducted an exclusive interview with Doreen Mokoena, CEO of Cybersecurity Clinique. During the interview, she discussed CISO strategies for consistently assessing and improving organizational cybersecurity posture. Mokoena also addressed the adaptation of cybersecurity strategies to bridge the digital divide. Furthermore, as a woman actively involved in the cybersecurity field, she discussed the value and role of women in this domain, and shared her upcoming goals and plans for the future.
Dayn Amade on Connecting the Unconnected: Innovating Telecom Strategies for Inclusive Connectivity
In an exclusive interview with Telecom Review, Dayn Amade, CEO of Tablet Comunitario, elaborated on how the digital era has transformed various aspects of daily life. He also highlighted specific, practical telecommunication methodologies that exhibit promise in bridging the digital divide within disadvantaged communities in less developed countries. Amade further discussed the essential policy interventions necessary for policymakers to narrow the digital gap and ensure universal access to basic digital services.
SCIT Group Chairman “Investing in the Future of Global Connectivity”
SCIT, a Saudi-based investment venture fund, focuses on investing in highly disruptive deep technologies. It initially targets the Avionics and inflight connectivity sector but plans to broaden its investment portfolio to encompass global connectivity across various sectors, as well as other domains of deep technology. Mr. Saad bin Solib bin Mutlaq Al-Otaibi (member of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Shura Council), and the founder of SBS and Ansab groups as the chairman of the board. In this interview, Mr. Al-Otaibi discussed his insights on investing in the future of global connectivity and outlined the investment directions of the SCIT Group.
Empowering Tomorrow: ATU's Mission to Unleash Digital Opportunities in Africa
Telecom Review conducted an exclusive interview with John Omo, Secretary-General at the African Telecommunications Union, shedding light on initiatives that can ensure diversity and equal opportunities for youth innovators in Africa. He also discussed ATU's plans to promote entrepreneurship in the telecommunications/ICT sector on the continent. Omo addressed the challenges and opportunities that African youth face in the ever-expanding digital landscape and outlined how the ATU can address these issues.
Ericsson’s 5G Advancements and Sustainable Commitments in Africa
In an exclusive interview with Telecom Review during MWC 2024, Hossam Kandeel, Vice President and Head of Ericsson Global Customer Unit MTN, discussed the status of 5G subscriptions in Africa and how Ericsson assesses the current state of Africa's telecom network capabilities. He provided insights into how Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) addresses the growing broadband needs in Africa and shared Ericsson's goals and plans for the region in the current year.
inwi Talks Tech: AI, Partnerships, and the Road Ahead
In an exclusive interview with Telecom Review, Yahia Sefraoui, Chief Digital & Data Transformation Officer at inwi, provided valuable insights on expediting digital transformation in Morocco. He discussed staying updated on telecom industry regulations and leveraging this knowledge within the company. Additionally, Sefraoui highlighted the partnership with UM6P and offered a glimpse into future updates.