Dr Gilbert Saggia, Bob Collymore among key speakers at Mobile 360 Series-Africa i

Dr Gilbert Saggia, Managing Director, SAP East Africa and Bob Collymore, CEO, Safaricom are among the key speakers for this year’s GSMA Mobile 360 Series which will take place 11 – 13 July 2017 at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Following the success of last year’s event, Mobile 360 – Africa has been extended to three days, with the GSMA’s Mobile Money Global Event taking place on the third day. Huawei is Global Industry Supporter for the full Mobile 360 Series of conferences taking place throughout 2017. Further, Vodacom has also been confirmed as Host Sponsor for Mobile 360-Africa.

Additionally, the GSMA announced that its Mobile for Development Utilities programme has launched a new call for applications for its Innovation Fund.

“Mobile 360 – Africa is now only two weeks away and we are looking forward to convening players from across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries to discuss the unprecedented opportunity that mobile provides to improve and enhance social and economic development in the region,” said Michael O’Hara, Chief Marketing Officer, GSMA.

At Mobile 360 – Africa, CEOs and senior executives from leading mobile companies and from players across the digital ecosystem will address the most pressing mobile trends and issues.

New speakers confirmed to join the existing line-up at Mobile 360 – Africa include:Marisa Conway, Chief Learning Officer, Arifu; Kees Van Lede, CEO, Carepay Ltd; Eric Osiakwan, Managing Partner, Chanzo Capital; Wale Ayeni, Regional head, Venture Capital – Africa, International Finance Corporation; Lilian Makoi, Founder and CEO, Jamii Africa; Catherine McCarthy, Chief Executive Officer, Medical Aid Films; Mohamed, Dabbour, Executive Vice President, Africa, Millicom; Dorcas Muthoni, CEO and Founder, Openworld; Thomas Chalumeau, Chief Strategy Officer, Orange MEA; Peter Kariuki, Co-Founder and CTO, Safemotos and Evan Thomas, CEO, SweetSense

Over the three days, the conference will feature thought-provoking keynote addresses, fireside chats, and panel discussions. Day One looks at the role of government and industry in delivering social and digital transformation; Day Two highlights and celebrates the companies and projects leading the digitisation of Africa; and finally, Day Three takes an in-depth look into mobile money and financial inclusion.

The conference will also examine different aspects of the empowerment story, with sessions including: ‘What Does a Digital Future Look Like for Africa?’, ‘Mobile as a Platform for Achieving SDGs in Africa’, ‘Expanding and Enhancing Mobile Broadband Connectivity’, and ‘Pathways to Social Transformation: Identity and Inclusion’.

For the first time, the programme will feature a ‘Predictions Panel’, where thought leaders from throughout the industry will gather to share and debate their predicted outcomes of Digital Africa in the next 12 months. Confirmed to join so far are: Dorcas Muthoni, CEO and Founder, Openworld; Mariam Abdullahi, Africa Industry Lead, Telecommunications, SAP Africa and Simon Karikari, CEO, Tigo Tanzania.

In addition to the main conference, Mobile 360 – Africa will highlight the initiatives and activities undertaken by the GSMA Mobile for Development programme. These include the programme’s work to: increase access to and use of life-enhancing mobile services; accelerate socio-economic improvements for the underserved, particularly women, rural populations and youth; drive digital and financial inclusion; and promote the adoption of identity for the unregistered.