The 7th Edition Connected Africa Summit 2026 concluded successfully on 15 October 2026 in Johannesburg, bringing together senior leaders from telecommunications, banking, financial services, regulation, cybersecurity, cloud and enterprise technology to explore the networks, policies and partnerships shaping Africa’s next phase of digital transformation.
Organised by the International Center for Strategic Alliances (ICSA), the 7th Edition Connected Africa Summit 2026 provided a high-level platform for industry leaders and decision-makers to exchange insights and address the opportunities and challenges shaping the continent’s connectivity landscape.
The programme, themed “Driving Africa’s Telecom Shift to Digital Platforms and Next-Gen Infrastructure,” placed a strong focus on digital ecosystems and policy alignment, stablecoins and the future of cross-border payments, mobile entertainment and content monetisation, cloud-native telco innovation, cybersecurity, network modernisation, and workforce readiness for the AI era, reflecting the critical priorities driving digital growth across African markets.
Sponsor Spotlight: Tether
The summit was proudly supported by Tether as Gold Sponsor Matt Crow, Head of Regional Expansion, Tether, delivered the keynote “Beyond Correspondent Banking: The History and Future of Stablecoins” and joined the executive panel on building inclusive digital ecosystems across Africa.
Tether’s participation underscored the growing convergence of telecommunications, digital payments and blockchain-based financial technology, and the role of secure, accessible digital finance in expanding economic opportunity across the continent.
Distinguished Leadership & Strategic Voices
The summit opened with an address from ICSA, followed by the inaugural keynote, “Reimagining Africa’s Digital Ecosystem: Aligning Policy, Partnerships & Innovation,” delivered by Katharina Pillay, CEO, South African Telecommunications Forum, setting the strategic context for the day.
The summit also featured senior voices from across Africa’s telecommunications, technology, regulatory and digital-finance sectors, including:
- Katharina Pillay – CEO, South African Telecommunications Forum
- Matt Crow – Head of Regional Expansion, Tether
- Vikash Barath – Group Head: Video and TV, MTN
- Martins Ogbolu – Group Executive, International Risk and Compliance, Vodacom
- Ekta Singh – Executive Head: Telco IT, Vodacom
- Thembisile Mazibuko-Kahimbaara – Group Strategy and Business Management Officer, Seacom
- Dr Siyabonga Mahlangu – Advocate of the High Court of South Africa, Member of Johannesburg Society of Advocates
- Joseph Ndaba – Commissioner 4IR, Republic of South Africa
- Jowi Nkwe – Senior Manager: WAN (SAPS), State Information Technology Agency (SITA)
- Nndondeni Mudau – Senior Specialist: RAN, Chairperson of the Board, communication committee, MTN South Africa
- Koketso Rihlampfu – CISO Senior Manager: Lead Information Security Officer, MTN
- Kennedy Matshavhange – Senior Specialist: Data Security, MTN
- Keitumetsi Tsotetsi – Senior Specialist: Digital Security Design, MTN
- Lindi S – Senior Manager: CVM Direct Marketing Technology (MarTech) & Campaign Execution, Telkom
- Sharley von Brandis – Chief Operations Officer, RUBIQ, Guideline BizTech
- Eric Lundberg – Cybersecurity Consultant and Co-Founder, blueflare Consulting
- Steve Jump – Professional Cyber & AI Risk Analyst, Custodiet Advisory Services
- Dhiren Beni – Founder & Digital Transformation Executive, Beni Group Pty Ltd
- Alastair Tempest – CEO, Ecommerce Forum of South Africa
Their collective participation reflected the growing convergence between telecom operators, financial institutions, regulators, technology providers and digital innovators in shaping Africa’s connected future.
Key Industry Conversations
The summit featured a comprehensive programme of keynotes, executive panels and a fireside chat focused on key priorities shaping Africa’s digital economy for Africa’s digital economy.
Matt Crow, Head of Regional Expansion, Tether, delivered the keynote “Beyond Correspondent Banking: The History and Future of Stablecoins,” looking at how stablecoins relate to traditional correspondent banking and the future of cross-border payments.
Vikash Barath, Group Head: Video and TV, MTN, presented “The Future of TV Is Mobile: How African Telecom Operators Are Redefining Entertainment, Content and Digital Monetisation,” on the growing role of mobile in content and entertainment.
Ekta Singh, Executive Head: Telco IT, Vodacom, delivered “Telco Innovation & Cloud-Native Futures,” This was followed by Thembisile Mazibuko-Kahimbaara, Group Strategy and Business Management Officer, Seacom, on “From Connectivity to Digital Platforms: How African Telecom Operators Can Build the Infrastructure for Enterprise Transformation.”
Dr Siyabonga Mahlangu addressed “Regulating Competition Among E-Commerce Platforms in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: Challenges, Opportunities & the Path Forward,” and Joseph Ndaba, Commissioner 4IR, Republic of South Africa, delivered “Upskill or Become Obsolete: Building Africa’s Telecom Workforce for the AI Era.”
Nndondeni Mudau of MTN South Africa, spoke on “The Future of Telecom Strategy and Network Innovation,” while Jowi Nkwe, State Information Technology Agency (SITA), presented “Modernising Africa’s Network Infrastructure: Building Resilient, Secure and Future-Ready Connectivity for the Digital Economy.”
The Executive Panel – “Building Inclusive Digital Ecosystems Across Africa” was moderated by Martins Ogbolu, Group Executive, International Risk and Compliance, Vodacom, with panellists from Telkom, Tether, RUBIQ (Guideline BizTech) and MTN, with discussions focusing on the priorities for building secure, accessible and inclusive digital ecosystems.
Connectivity, Cloud & Cybersecurity
Sessions examined how cloud-native architecture, resilient network infrastructure and digital platforms serve as foundations for enterprise transformation and economic resilience across African markets.
The Fireside Chat “Securing Africa’s Digital Platforms, Networks & Connected Future” brought together Koketso Rihlampfu and Kennedy Matshavhange of MTN and Eric Lundberg of blueflare Consulting to discuss how organisations can build digital trust as connectivity expands.
Digital Finance & the Telecom–Banking Convergence
Digital finance featured prominently through Tether’s keynote on stablecoins and the executive panel on inclusive digital ecosystems, reflecting the growing collaboration between telecom operators, fintech innovators and financial-technology providers in expanding access across the continent
Executive Leadership: The Future of Telecom in Africa
The closing executive panel – “Africa’s Digital Tomorrow: Collaboration, Policy & Innovation” brought together Dhiren Beni, Founder & Digital Transformation Executive, Beni Group; Alastair Tempest, CEO, Ecommerce Forum of South Africa; and Jowi Nkwe, Senior Manager: WAN (SAPS), SITA, moderated by Steve Jump, Professional Cyber & AI Risk Analyst, Custodiet Advisory Services, to explore the strategic and policy shifts shaping the future of telecommunications and digital infrastructure on the continent.
The discussion reflected the sector’s increasing focus on collaboration, policy alignment, network modernisation and the strategic role of innovation in building future-ready organisations.
Sponsors & Strategic Partners
The 7th Edition Connected Africa Summit 2026 was supported by organisations representing key areas of the telecom, financial technology and digital-infrastructure ecosystem.
Gold Sponsor
- Tether
Tether’s participation reflected the breadth of Africa’s evolving digital ecosystem, spanning connectivity, cloud, cybersecurity, payments, digital finance and emerging technologies.
A Connected Future for Africa
The 7th Edition Connected Africa Summit 2026 reinforced the importance of collaboration between telecom operators, financial institutions, regulators, technology leaders and innovators in accelerating Africa’s digital transformation.
The summit provided a platform for senior stakeholders to exchange insights, recognise excellence and explore the partnerships and technologies that will shape the future of connectivity and digital services across the continent.
As Africa continues to advance its digital infrastructure and financial ecosystem, the conversations and connections established at the summit represent an important contribution to building a more secure, inclusive, innovative and digitally connected future.
About the Organisers
The International Center for Strategic Alliances (ICSA) is a global organisation that designs platforms for collaboration, knowledge exchange and leadership dialogue across sectors, including banking, technology and digital transformation.
ICSA convenes decision-makers, innovators and policy leaders through executive forums, strategic summits and thought-leadership initiatives that inspire innovation and shape the future of global industries.
Media Contact Information
International Center for Strategic Alliances (ICSA)
Phone: +44 20 3808 8625
General Enquiries: [email protected]
Website: www.intercsa.com | https://connected-africa.com/summit/
Connect. Integrate. Transform.
