The Eswatini Communications Commission participated for the first time in the ITU Telecom World Exhibition in Durban. The event took place from the 10^th September 2018 to the 13^th September 2018. Under the broad theme of Innovation for smarter digital development, the Telecom Forum convened an influential global audience spanning governments, key ICT industry players, international organizations, high-growth SMEs, consultants, academia, media and more – including Euronews, which moderated the Forum Summit

The event was officially opened by the President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellence Mr Cyril Ramaphosa who was accompanied by a number of Cabinet Ministers, Mrs Nomvula Paula Mokonyane, Minister of Communications, South Africa; Acting Premier of KwaZulu Natal, Sihle Zikalala; H.E. Abdulaziz Bin Salem Al Ruwais, Governor, Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Rob Shuter, Group President and CEO, MTN; ITU Secretary General, Houlin Zhao; H.E Siyabonga Cyprian Cwele, Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, South Africa; and South Africa President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, who delivered the keynote address, to an audience of event participants and special guests, including Ministers, regulators, C-level industry representatives, exhibitors, Forum speakers and accredited media.

“ITU Telecom World provides a guide and in some ways a compass to the future,” Ramaphosa told a packed auditorium. “The deliberations that take place here concern the economy and society of tomorrow that we are building today. What you are talking about here has a bearing on the future of our economies as well as the wellbeing of society and humanity.”

The Telecom Exhibition included over 300 exhibitors, sponsors and partners from 32 countries. Delegates explored innovative smart digital solutions, SMEs and technologies in fields such as e-health, e-agriculture, e-education, digital government services and digital finance. On show were life-enhancing innovations spanning such topics as intelligent agriculture (including “smart" mushroom cultivation and beehive management), health screening platforms, Internet of Things (IoT), powered energy security services, digital finance, digital finance, virtual reality and augmented reality (VR/AR), smart learning, smart cities, Internet of Vehicles and more.

NOTE:

• The Kingdom of Eswatini was participating in the exhibition for the first time in the history of the ITU Telecom World Exhibition
• The Telecom Exhibition included over 300 exhibitors, sponsors and partners from 32 countries
• Eswatini Communications Commission participated to introduce itself to the international audience and share information on its mandate and operations.
• The Kingdom of Eswatini stall was visited by a number of high ranking officials from different countries and organisations. These included ITU Secretary General, Houlin Zhao; Mr. Siyabonga Cyprian Cwele, Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, South Africa

“ITU Telecom World 2018 is a platform for everyone to forge new ICT partnerships,” Zhao reminded delegates, urging them to “work together to ensure a smart and inclusive digital future for all – in Africa and in the rest of the world.”

Whilst ESCCOM staff shared information with visitors at the stall, there were also forums that were going on, ESCCOM had some personnel attending the forums.

Key Forum sessions include:

• Leapfrogging to 5G: can new technologies enable emerging markets by-pass legacy networks and, outdated regulatory frameworks?
• Rethinking regulation, enabling innovation: balancing consumer protection, innovation, secure global data flow, and new frameworks for AI
• Smart cities: innovations in sustainable urban living: how IoT and AI can meet the real challenges of modern city living in Africa and around the world
• Wireless technologies for Africa: the opportunities ahead: is satellite the answer to digital inclusion and smart services throughout Africa?
• AI: impact and ownership: how can AI and the data it generates be managed or regulated?
• Digital finance: innovative economic solutions for all: from digital currencies