Programme 2026
Every session across both days, or download the programme as a PDF.
Day 1 · Technical Solution Showcase
7 October 2026Opening & Welcome Keynote Address
Plenary Hall
Dr Andile Ngcaba
President, Digital Council Africa
Keynote Address
Mr Mothibi Ramusi
Chairperson, ICASA
Keynote Presentation
Accelerating FTTH Development for Africa’s Digital Future
Jessie Fang
Director of Industry Development Optical Business Product Line, Huawei
Keynote Presentation
Redefine the WLAN in Africa by Chasing the Best Application Experience to the Digital World
Robbin Luo
Deputy Director, Industrial Development Department, World WLAN Application Alliance (WAA)
Keynote Presentation
The Future of Fibre: Building Resilient, Intelligent and Scalable Networks
Dr Sunil Piyarlall
Head of Business Development, Openserve
Keynote Presentation
Architecting the AI Era
Jan Liebenberg
CTO: Network Infrastructure, Southern & Eastern Africa, Nokia
Presentation
Building the Mauritius AI Stack
Veemal Gungadin
CEO, Mauritius Telecom
Presentation
The Impact of AI on Service Provider Networks
Joe Marsella
VP Product Line Management, Ciena
Panel Discussion
Beyond Access: From Core to Edge: Fibre’s Role in Data Centre Expansion
Moderator: Eric Festraets
Strategic Marketing Director, Nokia, Fixed Networks, former President FTTH Council Europe
Lloyd Mphahlele
MD, Bayobab South Africa
Ziaad Suleman
CEO, Cassava Technologies, SA & Botswana
Fireside Chat
Beyond Access: How Herotel is Planning to Address Sustainable Rural Broadband Models
Moderator: Juanita Clark
CEO, Digital Council Africa
Van Zyl Botha
Co-Founder & CEO, Herotel
Mark Anderson
Head of Consumer Operations, EMEA Amazon
Day 1 - Technical Solutions Showcase
Connectivity UnpackedConnectivity Unpacked Breakaway Sessions
Fibre Focus Breakaway Session - Indigo Room
Welcome
Ellisha Gobind
CCO, Oni-Tel
Presentation
AI starts with Fibre
Nehal Osman
Fixed Networks Business Development Lead, Nokia
Presentation
Sustainable Fibre Deployment, Positively Impacting Millions of Lives
Mark Williams
Managing Executive: Product, Dark Fibre Africa
Presentation
From Fibre to Intelligence: Africa’s Path to the All-Optical, AI-Ready Network
Nimrod Smit
ICT Strategy Expert, Huawei Sub-Saharan Africa
Presentation
Introduction to World WLAN Application Alliance (WAA)
Robbin Luo
Deputy Director, Industrial Development Department, World WLAN Application Alliance (WAA)
Presentation
Translating Network Investment Into Subscriber Growth
Lenny Hui
Regional Vice President: Global Cloud Solution, Calix
Presentation
Beyond Connectivity: Building Africa’s Digital Infrastructure for Growth
Ashvir Singh
Snr Specialist: Special Projects & Network Quality, Openserve
Data Centre & Cloud Dialogue Breakaway Session - Ultramarine Room
Welcome
Jan Hnizdo
CEO, Teraco Data Environments
Presentation
The Connected Data Centre: Africa’s Next Infrastructure Frontier
Brian Lavallée
Senior Director, Market & Competitive Intelligence, Ciena
Presentation
A look into AI Cluster Connectivity & Distribution
Colenso van Wyk
Consulting Engineer, Nokia
Presentation
The Growth of Data Centres in South Africa - Economic, Energy & Water Perspectives
Bryce Allen
Head of Sustainability, Teraco Data Environments
Presentation
Powering the Digital Economy: Debunking Data Centre Myths and Exploring Their Impact on Resources and Communities
Carissa Singh
Channel Sales, Equinix
Thapelo Makomene
Global Solutions Architect, Equinix
Selaboro Justice Mohloana
Equinix
Sphiwe Mahlangu
Lead IBX Critical Facilities Engineer, Equinix
Presentation
Building Grid-Interactive AIDC, Maximizing Tokens Per Watt
Jay Bai
Director of Digital Power Solution & Sales Dept, Huawei South Africa
Tower Talk Breakaway Session - Aquamarine Room
Welcome
Charis Jenkins
Senior Governance & Regulatory Affairs Manager Africa & Asia, SBA & TowerCo Chairperson
Presentation
Evolving Open Access to Build Africa’s Digital Future
Jivesh Rhugbeer
Executive Head: Commercial (Segment Head MNO, FNO, Global portfolio), Dark Fibre Africa
Independent TowerCo Forum Meeting (Members only)
Day 2 · Leadership Summit
8 October 2026Opening Keynote Address
Keynote Presentation
Dr Andile Ngcaba
President, DCA
Opening Keynote Address
Plenary Hall
Minister Solly Malatsi
Department of Communications & Digital Technologies
In Conversation with
Maziv: One Year Later…..
Moderator: Juanita Clark
CEO, Digital Council Africa
Dietlof Maré
Group CEO, Maziv
Keynote Presentation
Leaving No One Behind with the AI Supercycle: Advancing Connectivity for a Brighter Future in Africa
Toni Pellegrino
Head of Nokia, Sub-Sahara Africa & MD, Nokia South Africa
Keynote Presentation
Connecting Opportunity: The impact of Digital Infrastructure
Amu Maja
Executive: Carrier & Global Business, Openserve
Keynote Presentation
Building Data Centre Networks for the AI Era: Challenges, Innovations and Solutions
Matamela Mashau
CTO, ICT Marketing & Solution, Huawei Sub-Saharan Africa
Fireside Chat
Submarine Cables: Resilience, Risk, and Africa’s Digital Future
Moderator: Christopher Geerdts
Managing Director, BMIT
Prenesh Padayachee
Group Chief Technology & Operations Officer, Seacom
Ryan Sher
Chief Operating Officer, WIOCC Group
Day 2 - Leadership Summit
8 October 2026Panel Discussion
Core to Edge: Fibre Networks as the Foundation of Africa’s AI Revolution
Moderator: Sudhir Juggernath
CEO, Telcables SA
Paul Divall
CCO, Dark Fibre Africa
Cristina David
COO, VX Fiber
Dr Christian Wirtz
CCO, MetroFibre Networx
Veemal Gungadin
CEO Mauritius Telecom
Panel Discussion
Shared Infrastructure: Strategies to Impact Africa’s Digital Future
Moderator: Fiki Masilela
Corporate Affairs, Digital Council Africa
Sean Swanson
Commercial Director, Helios Towers
Samantha Sequeira
CFO, ATC South Africa
Phil Wessels
CEO and Director, NTRL
Fireside Chat
The Business Turnaround Playbook: Insights from a CEO
Moderator: John Bailey
Media Owner & CEO, Sunday World
Jorge Mendes
CEO, Cell C
Panel Discussion
AI, Energy, and Edge: Building Africa’s Next-Generation Data Centres
Moderator: Sibylle Pfeiffer
Trade and Investment Officer, Wesgro
Sandile Dube
MD, Equinix SA
Jan Hnizdo
CEO, Teraco Data Environments
Rory Reid
HoD Data Centres, Master Power Technologies
Agnes Mlambo
General Manager, Strategy and New Business Development (Eskom Distribution Division)
Dr Angus Hay
Africa Data Centres
James Mackay
Energy Council of South Africa
Closing Comments
Juanita Clark
CEO, Digital Council Africa