This is the first year that South Africa’s largest telecommunications company Vodacom has come on board as a joint headline partner for the Future of Media event. Abey Mokgwatsane, managing executive for brand marketing and communications at Vodacom, says that he believes that the partnership is "more evident than many may initially consider".

"On the face of it, Facebook and Google may appear as the predominant means to access a digital audience. However, we at Vodacom believe [that] in an overwhelmingly mobile market like South Africa, before making such a claim we must weigh them against a mobile media offering," he says.

"As a Telco, primarily the assumption is always that Vodacom will play second or third fiddle in any digital play. This assumption, however, does not take into consideration Vodacom's own ubiquitous presence in the market as a Telco or mobile technology company," concludes Mokgwatsane.

The conference line-up will be announced in due course and more information about prior Future of Media events can be found on the event website.

To purchase tickets, individuals can contact [email protected].

For more information, visit www.quicklink.co.za or contact [email protected].