Africa Market Briefing | Page 17

africacast guide _africa 10/11/2014 10:59 Page 1 PREVIEW T The co-located shows will give broadcast and communications industry executives the opportunity to learn about the prospects and opportunities in the dynamic African market. Here’s Advanced Television’s brief guide to both events. delegates last year to address the challenges and opportunities in Africa’s broadcasting market. The event will continue to bring together the growing number of Sub-Saharan Africa’s major broadcasters, content owners, cable companies and pay-TV providers. They will be joined by a number of global broadcasters and OTT players who are making inroads in Sub-Saharan Africa. The growth of OTT players in Africa and the challenges around DTT continue to dominate discussion, and will be a major focus going forward. The agenda has been developed based on research with some of the key players in the African market and for the third year running this will be Africa’s premier broadcast show, co-located with AfricaCom. AWARDS. The esteemed AfricaCom Awards return to the spectacular Waterfront LookOut in Granger Bay, Cape Town. For 2014, organisers have focused the categories on innovation and relevance to market needs. The categories celebrate the breakthroughs and most influential players shaping the telecoms/ICT sector. The AfricaCom Awards 2014 will reflect the creativity and vibrancy in delivering effective solutions to market challenges such as quality of service and network improvement. Compelling customer experiences and inspiring marketing campaigns will be recognised. Organisers expect some excellent breakthroughs in LTE and improved smart phone experiences. And as always the personality of the year and the changing lives categories will celebrate individuals and initiatives contributing to social and economic development. Now in their seventh year, the AfricaCom Awards are recognised as the premier accolade for anyone operating in Africa’s digital market. For 2014, 161 entries have been received. “The overall quality of the entries this year surpassed expectation,” commented Adam Thompson, research manager, Informa Telecoms and Media. “The innovation taking place in the digital ecosystem across the entire continent is heartening and also world class. Many are leaders in their fields and pioneers of new technology and services answering the needs of emerging markets that more traditional markets can and should take note of.” EXHIBITORS. Among the bluechip exhibitors representing the converged media and communications industries are: Airbus Defence and Space; Alcatel Lucent; ALi Corporation; Allot Communications; Amos Spacecom; Arabsat; ARRIS; Aspera; Cisco; Conax; Convergys; Concurrent Systems; CSG International; Digisoft.tv; Ericsson; Eutelsat; Gilat Satcom; Globecast; Huawei; Hughes Network Systems; Intel; Intelsat; Juniper Networks; Level 3 Communications; MEASAT; Neotion; Newtec; Nokia; O3b Networks; Onlime; Pace; Procera Networks; Rohde & Schwarz; Sandvine; Sentech; SES; Tata Communications; Tecnotree; Tektronix Communciations; Verimatrix and Yahsat. and aking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from November 11-13 2014, AfricaCom is now in its 17th year. AfricaCom is Africa’s largest communications conference and exhibition. The conference programme covers the most strategic issues affecting companies in Africa’s digital market - services, efficiency, profitability, customer experience, partnerships, policy and more – alongside its usual three days of strategic conference content (delivered by 300+ executives), specialist events, workshops and networking, this year’s AfricaCom has a record-breaking 375+ exhibitors showcasing their solutions and services. AfricaCom, as the African continent’s single largest digital ecosystem conference and exhibition, continues to provide a platform and environment where issues such as ‘the cloud’ and ‘big data’, can be debated, challenged and resolved. Considering that both affect just about each and everyone on the planet, it’s probably best to discover why and how to get the most out of it. Africa Cast returns with a brand new Multi Platform Focus Day. It continues to develop as the major broadcast show in Sub-Saharan Africa. This year, the two overarching themes will be OTT Vid