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Smart Digital Development headlines at Opening of ITU Telecom World 2018 in Durban
The event provides a global platform from which to push forward innovation in ICT
Photo Credit : Shutterstock,
ITU Telecom World 2018 officially opened for business in Durban, South Africa.
It had a dynamic Opening Ceremony in the presence of (in order of speaking): H.E. 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.
Welcoming delegates to the province of KwaZulu-Natal, Zikalala spoke about the importance of new technologies saying, “The digital age is shaping every facet of our life. It affects how we live, how we relate to each other and how the world functions as global village.”
Hosting the event will result in a number of legacy projects, he told delegates, creating a platform to coordinate policy development and strengthen the continent’s digital entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Thanking the government of South Africa for hosting the event, Al Ruwais told delegates the event provides a global platform from which to push forward innovation in information and communication technology (ICT), “linking small and medium enterprises to governments and the private sector to achieve greater benefits for the peoples of the world.” He also outlined plans for Saudi Arabia’s multi-billion dollar Neom Smart City project.
Shuter highlighted the importance of affordability and partnerships to connect the unconnected saying, “We cannot tackle the challenge of bridging the digital divide without addressing barriers around coverage, affordability and access of handsets and services, and education of our users. This endeavour is too complex to be addressed solely by governments or just the operators or civil society. This needs to be a shared goal. We must all work together for connectivity.”
