CAPE TOWN, South Africa, November 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

On the 23^rd to the 25^th of April 2013, a selection of 65 of Africa's leading executives from across the telecoms sector will head to the Arabella Resort, Western Cape, South Africa, for two days as they attend GDS International's highly anticipated 8th Next Generation Telecom Africa summit.

Attended by the most senior executives from across Africa, NG Telecoms Africa is an invitation-only event. Some of last year's attendees are: Jean-Patrick Le Guillou, VP Emerging Market Technology for France Telecom (Orange); Ahmed Mohkles, SVP Commercial & Marketing for Etisalat & CCO for Zantel; Sunil Joshi, CEO & MD for Neotel; Rahul De, CMO for MTN Ghana; and Vuyani Jurana, Ex-COO Vodacom (now Executive Director Vodacom Money). In April 2013 NG Telecoms Africa will again be the place to be for senior decision makers.

The NG Telecom Africa Summit combines cutting edge topics with focused, peer-led discussions to provide the forward-thinking executive with a client-focused platform from which to assess emerging trends and strategies that are proving critical to organisational effectiveness in 2013. The summit's programme combines high-level roundtable discussions with next generation technology solutions that have been carefully selected to address core challenges faced by decision makers in the sector. Main topics to be discussed at this year's summit include loyalty management and reducing customer churn, MVAS and mobile money, network infrastructure, LTE/4G, broadband infrastructure, rural communications, wholesale services and rural network power.

While operator driven the 2013 event will also be supported by a dynamic range of sponsors in attendance, including GE, Aviat Networks, Business Logic Systems, Inala Technologies, BigTime, Motorola Mobility and Keynote Sigos.

Paul Eveleigh, Business Development Director Africa for Amphanol, was an attendee at last year's event, and found real value for money in the two-day summit. In his own words: "I have been in telecommunications for over 10 years and been to all sorts of trade shows, conferences and exhibitions. This is by far the best event I have been to and I haven't had five minutes to myself due to meeting all the relevant delegates' onsite.... It's been fantastic." In agreement, Ryan Bruton, Pre-Sales Director MEA for Aviat Networks, said the event was: "Well organized and well attended, providing a great opportunity to exchange ideas with peers."

Attendees will be given the opportunity to network and participate in a variety of comprehensive workshops and peer-led panel discussions that cover key industry issues. In attendance will be a selection of the industry's most prominent thought leaders who will contribute to the direction of the summit through a series of focused panel discussions and meetings.

Kieran Crawford, NG Telecoms Africa Summit Director for GDS International - the global events company behind the summit - says: "The NG Telecoms Africa event is set to exceed everyone's expectations once again. With two days of peer-led, high level discussions on some of the most pressing issues impacting the telecoms industry in the African region, the event boasts attendance from some of the most well respected executives in the Sub-Sahara Africa telecommunications industry, highly skilled workshops and a pioneering roundtable program."

For more information, please visit http://www.ngtafricasummit.com/

About GDS International

GDS International is one of the most innovative events and media companies worldwide - and a globally renowned producer of business-to-business summits, conferences, online information and advisory group gatherings. Founded in 1993, GDS International specialises in meeting the B2B marketing needs of our clients. Having a strong presence in mature industrial sectors but a finger on the pulse of emerging markets - as well as up-and-coming B2B business verticals - means we are perfectly placed to capitalise on the exciting developments brought about by the advent of a globalised economy. Our value proposition is simple: we deliver tangible business results from world-class events.

http://www.gdsinternational.com

Contact: Kimberley Hogarth
kimberley.hogarth@gdsinternational.com
+44(0)1179-261-420

SOURCE GDS International