Ericsson takes innovations to AfricaCom

ERICSSON, a global technology player, will be showcasing set of innovations, expected to help the continent leapfrog into the future at AfricaCom.

AfricaCom, which started in Cape Town, South Africa, yesterday will run till Thursday, with participants coming from across the globe.

Ericcsson, according to the Vice President, Strategy, Marketing and Communications, Tumi Chamayou, while mobile penetration is on the increase in Africa and has quadrupled in the last couple of years, it has opened the way, and led to an emergence of great innovations, thereby presenting significant business and commercial opportunities for both corporates and individuals.

She said this has also provided governments and policy makers, the opportunity to make policies that create an enabling environment for technology and all its attendant advantages to thrive, which has positively affected different sectors of the economy, across board.

At AfricaCom, she said Head of Ericsson sub-Saharan Africa, Fredrik Jejdling, would deliver a special keynote presentation; which will set the tone for our participation, and announce some of our latest innovations.

As you probably know, Ericsson has been at the forefront of supporting innovation globally and locally, with a number of key initiatives, including the Ericsson Innovation Awards.

According to her, in pushing forward our agenda of supporting innovation, we will be hosting an innovation station named “Ericsson AHUB” in partnership with Informa at the AfricaCom event.

The innovation station, she explained will bring together Africa’s leading entrepreneurs, tech start-ups and angel investor communities to encourage investment and showcase talent in the technology sector.

Chamayou said the Ericsson AHUB would create a platform that will try and fill the gap that exists between innovation and funding.

“One of the specific innovative solutions that we will be showcasing is the Ericsson Wallet Platform, a standalone software solution that enables secure and convenient services such as payments and transferring money, in-store purchases, paying bills, salary payments, and more. With the rise of retail trade and E-Commerce in Africa, you would agree that solutions like that are very important. This initiative also extends Ericsson’s commitment to driving the Networked Society in Africa through innovation”, she stated.

Speaking on how Ericsson AHUB contributes in encouraging innovation in Africa, the Ericsson VP, Marketing said through the innovation station, the Swedish firm is playing a part in creating an environment conducive to innovation, and more importantly, one that will address specific African challenges. “On the other hand, we also recognize the fact that innovative companies grow where there are ecosystems in place, as this is what most guarantees a return on investment. At Ericsson, we understand and how innovation has shaped and improved our society.

“So for example, inventions which harness the power of mobile have empowered farmers to access important agricultural information, students to attend online universities via smartphones, nurses to share maternal health information and fight diseases, and consumers to access financial services via mobile phones, and all of that.

“Which is why, Ericsson is committed to continually driving and supporting innovation across the communications spectrum.”