Africa's internet-driven GDP (IGDP) could reach 10% of total GDP by 2025, with significant contributions from innovations in ICT across various sectors in countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana. Current challenges include low rankings in network readiness for many African countries, necessitating collaboration among policymakers, service providers, and stakeholders to enhance ICT's role in social and economic development. The IAD Summit 2016 will address key strategies for aligning ICT innovation with national objectives, featuring discussions on regulatory frameworks, partnerships, and developmental themes.

1. Africa’s iGDP could account for as much as 10% of total GDP by 2025.
Africa’s iGDP should grow to at least 5 to 6% and if the Internet achieves the same kind of scale and
impact as the spread of mobile phones, it could account for as much as $300 billion of total GDP
while producing a leap forward in economic and social development (McKinsey).
According to The Networked Readiness Index (NRI), calculated by the World Economic Forum and
INSEAD only Mauritius and South Africa rank in the top 50% of the 144 countries in the index. 9 out
of the bottom 10 are African Nations. Policy Makers, Regulators and Service Providers need to
assess innovations in Value Added Services, Platforms, Delivery mechanisms and engagement tools
in order for ICT to support national and enterprise development objectives.
Nigeria: The UN award winning 1-GOV.net
ICT platform has resulted in huge cost
savings and immeasurable efficiencies by
providing a common platform for
communication across all government
Ministries, Departments and Agencies and
a single point of access for citizens to access
core government services.
Kenya: It is striking to see the role that ICT
and innovative business models have
played in the explosive growth of
financial inclusion. Transactions through
mobile banking service M-PESA exceed
US$375 million each month and
account for up to 20 per cent of the
nation’s GDP (source: World Bank)
e-Commerce is at the epicenter of Africa’s thriving economy. With internet penetration rapidly
spreading across the region, huge opportunities exist for aligning ICT with National socio-economic
and Enterprise development goals can be demonstrated:
East Africa: M-Kopa has won the
prestigious Zayed Future Energy award for
providing Pay as you Go energy services to
Off Grid customers, combining mobile
payments with GSM sensors to enable the
leasing of solar power systems. M-KOPA
has connected more than 150,000 homes in
East Africa to solar power and is adding
over 500 new homes each day.
Ghana: the Esoko communications
platform is supporting farmers across Africa
to access crucial market intelligence. In
Ghana, as part of MTN’s Corporate Social
Responsibility, Esoko was engaged to set up
500 farmers to receive personalized price
alerts and provide in-person trainings and
ongoing support.
South Africa: Payment Pebble is an
innovative solution provided by ABSA
providing a high-tech yet easy new way to
make and receive card payments; enabling
small, medium and large business owners
the ability to accept MasterCard and Visa
debit and credit card payments through a
smartphone or tablet – anytime, anywhere.
Kenya: Winners of the Frost and Sullivan
entrepreneurial company of the year
award, Weza Tele has created innovative
supply chain solutions for SME’s in the
informal sector by using basic mobile
technology. The company’s MyOrder
enterprise solution is a quick and easy-to-
use ordering platform that increases the
visibility between retailers and distributors,
and streamlines the overall supply chain
management process.

2. To support Africa’s growth and development and to take full advantage of the huge investments in
ICT connectivity and innovation, Government Agencies and Departments, MNOs, Telcos, ISPs,
Financial Institutions, Retailers and other customer facing service providers must assess how ICT
innovations can support their engagement strategies, operational efficiencies, quality of service
improvements and support national and regional development objectives.
IAD Summit 2016 asks the questions:
What can Policy Makers and Regulators
do to ensure continued alignment of growth with
national development objectives? How can they
address the digital divide and help service
providers to meet the strong demand for data
services?
Suggested topics include: Harmonising Spectrum;
Public Private Partnerships; Creating an
Investment Environment • Digital
Transformation • Transparent Regulatory
Environment • Stakeholder Engagement
Strategies • Releasing & Encouraging Innovative
Use of Data Sets Promoting Shared Resources
Across Key Sectors • Security & Crime Prevention
• Realising the Value and Potential of Open Data,
etc.
What can Service Providers do to
align infrastructure developments with
national and regional socio-economic
growth and development objectives?
Relevant themes include: Collaboration &
Partnerships with Key Stakeholders •
Establishing Education Programmes •
Connecting Rural Environments • Youth
Engagement Strategies • Providing Value
Added Services • Child Online Protection •
Driving Innovation & Entrepreneurship •
Delivering Consistent Service Quality •
Reducing Access & Data Transfer Costs •
Supporting Start-ups, Technology &
Innovation Hubs, etc.
IAD Summit 2016 will deliver an innovative conference programme combining keynote
presentations, panel discussions, workshops, advisory clinics, private business meetings and high-
level networking opportunities allowing attendees to tailor their experience to reflect their most
pressing demands and objectives.
‘Invitation only’ attendees will include CXOs from telecoms service providers, Heads of Regulatory
Authorities, Ministers of ICT and High-Throughput Users from across Africa together with a select
number of solution providers, vendors, consultants and investors who can support key business
requirements.
For more information, to register to attend or to express interest in sponsorship
opportunities, please contact Extensia COO, Adrian Hall:
Tel: +44 (0)1904 622381 | Email: ah@extensia-ltd.com