ITU TELECOM AFRICA 2004, Some 10 000 visitors expected in Cairo

Geneva, April 12, 2004 /Wi-Fi Technology News/- From 4 to 8 May 2004, leading names in the telecommunication industry will come together in Cairo, Egypt to attend ITU TELECOM AFRICA 2004, to explore the region?s telecommunication market and to debate areas central to the market?s growth. Some 10 000 visitors are expected to attend the event.

AFRICA 2004 will feature an exhibition where participants from across the region as well as top-level global players such as Siemens, Alcatel, Vodafone, Cisco Systems, Oracle, Flag Telecom, Thuraya and Orascom Telecom will demonstrate a broad range of products and services that illustrate the kind of solutions available to deploy Information and Communications Technologies across Africa.

The African telecommunications market has experienced rapid growth in a number of key areas and the advent of independent regulatory bodies has meant that a more competition-friendly climate is being created. While growth prospects across some of the industry are very positive, some challenges still remain. At the AFRICA 2004 Forum, industry leaders from the private sector, governments, regulators and finance will share their vision on key regional topics including successful business models, new infrastructure solutions, the impact of market liberalization, investment strategies, the management of Internet resources in an African context, appropriate technologies for countries of the region and more.

Keynote speakers include Conny Kullman, CEO of Intelsat, Marc Mesle, Vice President Africa of Orange, Michael Kutschenreuter, Chief Financial Officer at Siemens, Naguib Sawiris, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Orascom Telecom, H.E. Dr Ahmed Mahmoud Nazif, Egypt?s Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Dr Jabulani Dhliwayo of the NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa?s Development) Council to name but a few. As the first major ITU event held after the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society, the Forum promises to be an important milestone for the Africa region.

"ITU TELECOM AFRICA 2004 offers an opportunity for leading opinion-makers to examine topical areas central to the region's growth, such as the expanding mobile market or the management of Internet resources" said Yoshio Utsumi, ITU Secretary-General. "It is a key event to discuss telecommunications policy, development, economic and investment issues, as well as their technology and applications aspects", he added.

Advances in technology and the increasing affordability of telecommunications solutions continue to hold great promise for the development of telecommunications on the continent and Africa is poised for further growth in fields such as mobile communications and Internet. Confirmed participation by some of the industry?s top names acknowledges the opportunities and potential which the region offers for growth and development.

About ITU http://www.itu.int:

ITU is a world-wide organization which brings governments and industry together to coordinate the establishment and operation of global telecommunication networks and services; it is responsible for standardization, coordination and development of international telecommunications including radiocommunications, as well as the harmonization of national policies.

To fulfil its mission, ITU adopts international regulations and treaties governing all terrestrial and space uses of the frequency spectrum as well as the use of all satellite orbits which serve as a framework for national legislations; it develops standards to foster the interconnection of telecommunication systems on a worldwide scale regardless of the type of technology used; it also fosters the development of telecommunications in developing countries.

ITU also organizes worldwide and regional exhibitions and forums bringing together the most influential representatives of government and the telecommunications industry to exchange ideas, knowledge and technology for the benefit of the global community, and in particular the developing world.