WAFICT’12 to enhance broadband penetration in West Africa

The fourth West African Information and Communications Technology Congress (WAFICT 2012) is set to enhance the broadband penetration in the sub-region, according to the organizers.

A press statement made available to ITRealms Online signed by the editor-in-chief, IT & Telecom Digest, Mr. Mkpe Abang, revealed that this year’s WAFICT Congress has the theme: ‘Bridging West Africa’s Digital Divide Through Broadband.’

He noted that these are some of the critical issues that experts, government officials, telecom operators and interest groups will be providing practical answers to when they gather in Lagos, between May 8 and 10, 2012 when they gather for the fourth West African Information and Communications Technology Congress (WAFICT 2012).

The event scheduled to hold at the ultra-modern New Eko Expo Hall, Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, he said is organised by IT & Telecom Digest, WAFICT 2012 tends to bring together telecom regulators and operators across the sub-region with top notch speakers, to chart the course for the industry’s growth.

“WAFICT 2012 is a grand platform to hear from governments and regulators in West Africa on their policies on broadband and strategies for deployment; from equipment manufacturers, mobile operators, telecom operators, Internet Service Providers, experts, and many more, from across the world, what potential exists in broadband and their offerings for the sub-region,” he said.

As said by Abang, WAFICT 2012 will be building on the success of the 2011 event, thereby providing delegates and sponsors as well as industry associations and governments a platform to fashion the sub-region’s economies using broadband.

Abang pointed out that from the resounding success in last year’s outing, WAFICT Congress 2012, with the reputation as the leading ICT conference for the sub-region, will define the direction operators and players in the region will follow in the years ahead.

“With its categorisation as the biggest and most professional conference in the sub-region, companies that want to get the most exposure do not miss the opportunity to participate in and attend this conference,” Abang said.

Broadband, he said, was chosen as the key area to focus attention because after over a decade of exciting growth in mobile voice, and in tandem with global trends, broadband is naturally the next phase of the telecom revolution.

Additionally, he said, governments in the sub-region have a role to provide the enabling laws, policies and environment to encourage investment in the sector.

“And, WAFICT 2012 provides them that platform to make these programmes and policies known to potential investors while at the same time creating the awareness of such policies for the knowledge of the citizenry,” he said.

Remmy Nweke
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