A Fourth Industrial Revolution in Africa
ITU TELECOM WORLD 2018
Durban, South Africa,
10-13 September 2018
by Roxana Dunnette
The key trends characterizing the Fourth Industrial Revolution — Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (I oT), and the Fifth Generation Networks (5G) — were the focus of the ITU Telecom World conference and exhibition held from September 13-15, 2018 in Durban where global leaders in government, technology, policy development, academia and entrepreneurship met to discuss the best way to manage this revolution in Africa.
This ITU event, organized by South’s Africa Department of Telecommunications & Postal Services, welcomed 3,100 participants from 94 countries and 200 leaders, including 33 ministers, from 74 countries. The event also included 125 SMEs as well as national pavilions.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa reminded the audience at the opening ceremony of the importance and the opportunity for Africa’s voices to be heard in global ICT debates, especially this year as the country marks the 100th birth anniversary of Nelson Mandela, where a year-long celebration is taking place in South Africa.
“UBUNTU” the spirit that Madiba (a title of respect for Mandela) had, is expected to prevail so that no one is left behind as the world changes, and to ensure that the benefits of this revolution are as inclusive as possible was the conference’s uniting theme. The first ITU Africa Telecom took place in Johannesburg in 1998 in the presence of Mandela.
ITU Secretary General Houlin Zhao believes that Africa’s tech sector has boundless potential in the further development of AI, smart devices, and smart cities. South Africa, being a hub for vibrant start-up sector and major strategic initiatives, is the ideal location to have such discussions.
So what promises do AI, IoT, and 5G offer?
AI is expected to provide more efficiency for many processes performed by people at work. While some fears that AI will take people’s jobs, it will mostly replace repetitive tasks.
AI can transform African health and agriculture. Farmers can receive maps and crops data via satellite and smartphone users can enjoy remote medical examinations and health information.
“Since connectivity is an essential part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it will be important that everyone is connected,” said Cyprian Cwele, South Africa’s minister of Telecommunications & Postal Services.
The deployment of 5G networks that allow speed 20 times faster then 4G will change the game. We will see enhanced mobile broadband services like virtual reality or augmented reality or ultra-high definition streaming. Applications like driverless vehicles (demo for agriculture seen at the Chinese pavilion), industrial automation, robotic remote surgery or repairs, just to name few, will now be possible.
On 12 September, the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development issued its report showing that at least 15 African governments have strategies in place for AI, IoT, Big Data, and 5G.
Next generation satellite technology will also permit the delivery of digital services for agriculture, climate, disaster relief, education, and health faster, even to the most remote areas of Africa.
For Africa, advancing funding for the implementation of 5G infrastructures is an advantage, as most countries do not have to overcome outdated networks and regulations.
The AI and 5G will work well in integrating IoT enabling machines and infrastructures to be monitored and operated remotely.
The Forum’s discussions also covered topics like investment, partnerships, innovation, Spectrum needs, policies and regulations, and how to bridge the digital divide and achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Women and youth are asked to play a central role in the future digital world. ITU, UN Women and African Union Commission launched a new initiative to equip girls and young women in Africa with digital skills.
The African Girls Can CODE initiative is a 4-year training program in 14 coding camps across Africa that will teach girls and women 17-20 years old how to become programmers, creators, and designers.
Several MoUs, partnerships have been signed in Durban during this event.
South Africa established an AFRICAN Digital Transformation Center that will support entrepreneurship and will work on the Forth Industrial Revolution.
CSAIA (China Satellite Application Industry Association) signed a MoU with ICDO (International Civil Defense Organization) for satellite applications for emergency communications.
FRONTIS (Republic of Korea) signed with South Africa, Zimbabwe, Azerbaijan, and Nigeria for provision of virtual/augmented reality content and VICTONY (Korea) will provide to Burundi’s Innovation Hub e-education content.
Since 2015, ITU has encouraged Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to participate in the ITU Telecom events to facilitate their business relationship with governments and the private sector.
SMEs are identified as the source of smart, young, and innovative ideas. This year, 125 SMEs showcased digital solutions for health, agriculture, government services, finance, satellite automotive remote repairs, drowns detection, robotics, and intelligent cyber security.
Some SMEs had independent stands as part of national pavilions.
ITU awards the best every year and this time the Global SME Excellence Award went to PULEGO Communications, South Africa which also received the Award for Greatest Social Impact.
ITU Telecom World 2018 concluded on a vey optimistic note, everybody being pleased with the inspiring showcases, shared visions, knowledge of technology, the commitment to connect the unconnected, and with a precise way forward for Africa allowing governments, businesses and regulators to adapt to the changing world.
“ITU Telecom World provides a guide and in some ways a compass to the future,” said President Ramaphosa.“What we are talking about here has a bearing on the future of our economies as well as the well-being of society and humanity,” he added.
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Roxana Dunnette is a correspondent of Satellite Executive Briefing based in Geneva, Switzerland. She is Executive Director, R&D MEDIA , Switzerland, has had an extensive career in Broadcasting and media including senior management positions at Worldspace Corp.,Washington, CBS and PBS in New York and international telecommunications regulatory work at the UN in New York and ITU in Geneva as US government representative. She accomplished many development projects in Africa based on satellite technologies, broadcasting, Internet and accessibility. She can be reached at: roxanadunnette@gmail.com
