Telecommunications consumers in West Africa can look forward to improved network services as key industry players gather in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, for the inaugural West Africa Telecoms Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition (WATISE) 2023. This groundbreaking event aims to tackle critical telecoms infrastructure issues that have been hindering the growth of the region’s digital economy.
Expected dignitaries at WATISE 2023 include Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy; Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of the Nigerian Information and Technology Development Agency (NITDA); Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ALTON), alongside other industry stakeholders.
Scheduled to take place from October 3rd to 4th at the Oriental Hotel Lagos, WATISE 2023’s theme is ‘The Future of Infrastructure, Connectivity, and Services: A New Interdependent Ecosystem of Partners.’ The event aims to attract more investors into the tech sector by exploring investment opportunities within the industry.
Participants from Tunisia, Egypt, and the Republic of Benin have already registered for the event, reflecting its regional significance. WATISE 2023 will bring together leading telcos and ICT players, fostering learning, sharing, industry shaping, and networking opportunities.
The summit’s discussions will encompass essential digital transformation trends and developments related to telecom infrastructure, including submarine cables, connectivity, security, data center landscapes, internet exchanges, and wholesale digital transformation.
Notably, the event will focus on infrastructure and content, convening over 200 global companies involved in data/capacity, submarine cables, content provision, technology, internet exchanges, security, data centers, cloud computing, and related sectors.
Making the announcement of the upcoming event in Lagos, Country Editor, TechnologyMirror, Isaiah Erhiawarien, said the sub-regional forum will create opportunities for establishing strategic alliances and partnerships amongst local and foreign investors for the purpose of expanding ICT networks in Nigeria and West Africa.
In his words: “WATISE 2023 is expected to provide a platform for organisations to showcase emerging innovative products and solutions. Specifically, the forum will bring together ICT stakeholders, government, and foreign missions to x-ray and chart a new course for the future of Africa’s digital economy.
“Also, through this event, stakeholders are expected to actively engage the government and other relevant agencies to the widespread deployment of digital technology innovations across the continent.”
He highlighted that the event is an exclusive wholesale telecom operator and service provider gathering that will offer them opportunity to meet more than 300+ industry players from regional and international telecom operators, network with peers and eco partners in a private, relaxed, and exclusive community environment and join knowledge sharing executive panel sessions
Key industry players expected to participate in the summit include telecom operators, 4G service/solution providers, telecom tower manufacturers, policymakers, power solution providers, 5G technology providers, legal and management consultants, civil contractors, financial institutions, renewable energy companies, and more.
With the support of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), WATISE 2023 is organized by TechX Innovation Hub, a well-equipped tech hub in Nigeria, and TechnologyMirror, a leading technology news and information website recognized as the Best Startups Supportive Online Media in 2022.
