2 weeks left to seal your head-lining win at the Africa Com Awards...

Just two weeks left to highlight your achievements to Africa's Digital elite!

Where does time fly to? Preparations for this year's AfricaCom Awards are really hotting up now here at Awards HQ - we've been working hard to ensure that the amazing drive for excellence in Africa's digital market is properly recognised through a star-studded ceremony.

All of our awards are judged by a panel of independent telecoms experts.

Check out the celebrity host, top South African comedian Nik Rabinowitz

And get all the preparatory materials you need for your entries by downloading them from our website.

Deadline for entries: 7th September 2012


Choose from our updated categories that reflect the continent's new Digital Era:

1. Best Network Improvement
2. Most Innovative Service
3. Best Quality User Experience *NEW
4. Best Cost Efficiency Initiative for Africa
5. Rural Telecoms Award
6. Best Backhaul Solution for Africa
7. Best Marketing Campaign
8. Best Smart-Device for Africa *NEW
9. Best Pan African Initiative
10. The 2012 Mobile Data and Social Media Award *NEW
11. Industry Personality of the Year *NEW  *Free to Enter
12. Changing Lives Award

PLUS the AfricApps Awards

To celebrate the launch of AfricApps at AfricaCom 2012, we will be celebrating the winning entrants of the App-focused awards:

13. Best Smart-Phone App in Africa  *Free to Enter
14. Best Feature-Phone App in Africa  *Free to Enter 

AND we are delighted to welcome:

15. Orange African Social Venture Prize
Apply through the Orange portal StarAfrica.com here by 1st September.

16. Etisalat Nigeria Prize for Innovation
Apply through Etisalat Nigeria's website here by 6th September


Follow the easy online entry process today 

Access our easy-to use online entry system - please select the Invoice option for the Free to Enter awards

Deadline for entries: 7th September 2012

For full details of this year's Awards - including the categories, gala dinner and entertainment - download the AfricaCom Awards brochure

For further specific information, contact:
Entries - melissa.willock@informa.com
Booking a table - corrie.thompson@informa.com
General enquiries - natalie.bursk@informa.com

Good luck and we look forward to celebrating with you at this year's AfricaCom Awards on 14th November!

Entrepreneurs Incubator Hub - a fantastic NEW feature at Africa Com 2012

Hear investors, foundations and entrepreneurs share best practice on building successful start-ups in the digital sector... Years of dedication to a clear goal; setbacks overcome through perseverance, adaptability and passion; a commitment to excellence… Yes, African athletes have done excellently at the recent London Olympics, but it is other trials that we are looking at today: those of Africa’s young, creative and ambitious entrepreneurs. Africa is experiencing a fantastic time for innovation, particularly in the field of ICT and new media. Across the continent, investors are backing new entrepreneurs. In the most active areas, technology hubs have been launched to support emerging start-ups – think of Kenya’s Silicon Savannah or South Africa’s Silicon Cape. To celebrate this promising development, AfricaCom is launching the Entrepreneurs Incubator Hub:  a new session dedicated to  innovative ICT entrepreneurs. It will bring together investors, incubators, foundations and entrepreneurs to share experiences and best practice on how to build successful start-ups in the digital sector. Check out theprogramme for more details on the great presentations and discussions to expect. Until then, you can also read some words of advice from one of South Africa’s successful entrepreneurs, World of Avatar’s founder and Mxit CEO Alan Knott-Craig in an interview below. He says of the prospects for African businesses  “The ideas are there. The ambition is there. The opportunity is there”.  Let’s see how to make the most of them... Click here to download the agenda... Click here to register for a FREE platinum Operator pass* Click here to register for other passes... * free passes have restrictions and apply only to operators, broadcasters, enterprise CIOs and application developers - Informa Telecoms & Media's decision on qualification is final.

Our mega-watt line-up of OTT challengers, new media disruptors & digital innovators includes keynotes from: Nicola D’Elia,  Growth Manager Africa,  facebook Peter Vesterback,  Mighty Eagle,  Rovio Alan Knott-Craig, CEO,  Cell C Simone Brunozzi, Technology Evangelist,  Amazon WebServices Alan Knott-Craig Jr,  CEO,  Mxit Patrick Walker,  Sr Director for Content Partnerships EMEA, YouTube Richard Bell,  CEO,  Wananchi Group Sivan Pillay,  Managing Director SA,  Endemol Click here to take a look at the 200+ speakers from every part of the emerging  digital ecosystem....  View our mini-trailer below showcasing the top talent delivering at AfricaCom 2012:

Expert speakers share their advice with entrepreneurs at the Entrepreneur Incubator Hub  From conception >> to fundraising >> to launch, the programme of the Entrepreneurs Incubator Hub atAfricaCom is designed  to give start-ups an overall picture of how to succeed. The session will include: Scene-setting presentations on the investment ecosystem and onbuilding a business plan A debate on the dos and don’ts of launching start-ups in Africa Perspectives from incubator hubs from different regions of Africa Case studies from successful entrepreneurs sharing their stories and tips The debates will be chaired by Andrea Böhmert of Knife Capital andJustin Spratt of Quirk, with speakers from The Silicon Cape Initiative,HumanIPO, Rorotika, Umbono/Google, The Indigo Trust, Ubuntu Deal.co.za, Afroes, iHub Kenya and CTIC Senegal. Click here to download the agenda...Click here to register...

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