Supported by PCCW Global, the Awards will be held on Wednesday, 14 November at The Lookout in Granger Bay, Cape Town.

With ‘Mardi Gras’ as the theme for the 2018 celebration, the event aims to be a night of music, entertainment and celebration. 

"PPCW Global is delighted to sponsor the AfricaCom Awards, which recognises the work of companies and personalities that are developing solutions and products that improve connectivity, and that will drive Africa into the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Good luck to all who enter," says the team at PPCW Global. 

In line with all the new focus areas for AfricaCom 2018 – such as artificial intelligence and enterprise digital transformation – the organisers have created new categories to celebrate the innovators across tech and telecoms in Africa.

The 2018 AfricaCom Awards cover nine categories:
  • Best Network Improvement
  • Delivering Excellence in Customer Experience
  • Fintech Innovation Award
  • Most Innovative use of AI Technology (new for 2018)
  • Most Innovative Service
  • Changing Lives Award
  • Best Sustainable Power Solution (new for 2018)
  • IoT Product or Service of the Year
  • Best Innovation in Digital Entertainment
Also new in 2018 is the AfricaCom Enterprise CXO of the Year Award, which recognises the achievements of CEOs, CTOs, CIOs, CDOs and others in driving innovation within the African enterprise space.

The accolade is awarded to an African-based enterprise leader who is at the forefront of navigating their company through Industry 4.0 by prioritising innovation, embracing disruptive tech and elevating the continent’s digital economy.

Participants can nominate their choice for Enterprise CXO of the Year here.

The AfricaCom CXO of the Year Award is back for another year, and recognises the achievements of CEOs, CTOs, CIOs, CDOs and others in driving development across telecommunications and technology in 'digital Africa'.

It is open to CXO’s from licensed network operators, broadcasters and enterprise/SMEs within Africa and is free to enter.

Participants can nominate their choice for CXO of the Year here.

Nominations for both the Enterprise CXO of the Year Award and CXO of the Year Award close on Friday, 21 September at midnight CAT.

The AfricaCom Awards will also see the Orange Social Venture Prize awarded to a winning innovative project based on ICT that improves the living conditions of people in Africa and the Middle East in fields such as education, healthcare, farming, mobile payments or sustainable development.

Participants can enter their project for the Orange Social Venture Prize here

More about the AfricaCom Awards 2018 categories

Best Network Improvement

This award recognizes the most successful initiative from an operator or a vendor that has improved the performance or coverage of a network in Africa since the end of November 2017.

Delivering Excellence in Customer Experience

This award recognises a company or initiative that has provided a compelling customer experience.

For example, this could be through developing an integrated CEM strategy, using data innovatively or improving the mobile user experience.

Fintech Innovation Award

This recognises a FinTech business that has disrupted the financial services sector with new and innovative services, creating competition and transforming the way individuals experience financial services.

This may include a new product or service that disrupts the payments sector; services could be from all areas of the FinTech sector, including mobile or digital currency providers.

This may also be a product or service that offers a new, or significantly improved, service and demonstrates the advanced use of technology to benefit customers and financial institutions to encourage financial inclusion throughout Africa.

Most Innovative use of AI Technology

This award recognises effective AI solutions to the market, across any industry in Africa. Judging will focus on how effectively the application has solved one, or several, business critical challenges.

Most Innovative Service

This prize recognises a new offering that, from conception to execution, has been an innovation. It could be for the consumer or the enterprise market. It must be in an African market and should have offered significant new prospects for revenue growth and customer satisfaction.

Changing Lives Award

This is where ICT meets socio-economic development and inclusion. This award will celebrate a product, initiative or social enterprise that is having a life-changing impact on individuals or communities in the region.

Best Sustainable Power Solution

This award recognises power solutions that can supply all the power required to provide a reliable service at a low cost, with a reduced reliance on fossil fuels.

IoT Product or Service of the Year

This award goes to the enterprise (either supplier or end user) that demonstrates excellence in IoT-related platform deployment or integration of an IoT-related solution into existing IT and business processes.

Best Innovation in Digital Entertainment

This award is for a product or service in which music, video or gaming content is being distributed across Africa. This could be a new streaming service, OTT platform, content model or a technology that provides an enhancement in the way content is being viewed on the continent.

AfricaCom 2018 will bring together 14 000 attendees, 450 speakers and 400 exhibitors showcasing technologies and solutions covering everything from 5G, AI, IoT, Fintech, Blockchain and beyond, with new content and developments.

Participants can enter the awards here. Entries close on Friday, 5 October.

For more information, visit www.tmt.knect365.com. You can also follow the AfricaCom Awards on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.