Connecting West Africa opened today at the Radisson Blu in Dakar...

***Join us for day 2 ***  Share your thoughts on #ConnectingWestAfrica @allaboutcom
 
Connecting West Africa opened today at the Radisson Blu in Dakar, Senegal, with very engaging debates on the means to improve connectivity across the West Africa region.
  

The key theme of the event was how to meet the networks and infrastructure needs in the digital era in the region. The conference included presentations and interactive debates with inspiring speakers from the entire digital ecosystem such as Operators (Sonatel-Orange, MTN, Tigo, Expresso, and Sierratel), OTT players (Google, Viadeo) and Satellite companies (Intelsat, O3B Networks) and much more. 
 
The discussions touched on some of the key challenges that remain in order to provide better, more reliable and more affordable communications: regulation, bandwidth cost, quality of service and cost-efficiency among others.
  

Outside the conference, the exhibition and break areas were busy with meetings and continuing discussions. Some attendees joined a busy Speed Networking session to make new contacts. The day closed with a seaside networking drinks reception sponsored by Mahindra Comviva. 
 
The second day will continue the debates around investment, partnerships, cost-efficiency and rural telecoms, with speakers from ECOWAS, IFC/World Bank, WIOCC, Orange, Helios Towers Africa, Azur Telecom, the Liberian regulator and much more.
 
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Make sure to join us for Day 2 
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There is an outstanding speaker line-up for day 2 of the event as well -  
make sure to join us tomorrow! 
 
Venue Information: http://westafrica.comworldseries.com/venue/
 
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Timings:  
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Day 2: 
Registration: Opens 8:30 
Conference: 9.30am – 15.30pm 
Exhibition: 9.00am – 15:30pm 
   
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Hear from a Connecting West Africa Day 1 Attendee 
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Nirina Rambelo, Regional Sales Manager, France and Francophone Africa, Transition Networks
 
"For my first participation as visitor I am fully satisfied. The event's concept is suited to the target market ie the telcos. The quality of attendees is of very high level: I'd say 100pc are decision makers. For us as suppliers it is very important. On the first day of the event I achieved nearly all of my objectives. We'd recommend vendors in our field to attend" 

"Pour une 1re participation en tant que visiteur je suis entierement satisfait. Le concept est adapte par rapport au marche vise (les telcos). La qualite des personnes qui viennent rst de tres hautniveau; a 100pc ce sont des decideurs. Pour nous en tant que constructeur c'est tres important. Meme le 1er jour j'ai acheve presque tous mes objectifs. Nous recommandons aux constructeurs dans notre domaine d'etre presents".

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Sponsors of Connecting West Africa 
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Intelsat
O3B
Sonatel
TI Sparkle
Helios Towers 
Ekinops 
Mahindra Comviva