The third annual African voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) forum, which aims to encourage telecommunication operators, Internet service providers (ISPs) and corporate users to integrate VOIP technology into business operations, will be held in Lagos from 31 July to 3 August.
This, say event organisers African IT Exhibitions and Conferences (AITEC) and Nigerian ICT magazine ITEdge, has the potential to redefine existing market structures. This year`s event is themed "The developmental and business imperatives of IP telephony in Africa," the organisers say.
The forum will offer discussions on VOIP technology. Workshops on the agenda will be hosted by Sunday Folayan, MD of Skannet Nigeria, (an introduction to VOIP); Mwale Tse, Africa sales director for US-based iBasis (helping ISPs and telecoms focus on VOIP links); Dr Gillian Marcelle, principal consultant at Technology for Development SA (progressive VOIP regulation); and Russell Southwood, CEO of Balancing Act (survival strategies for ISPs and cyber cafes), says AITEC.
Reduce costs
Sean Moroney, group chairman of AITEC, says the event will encourage talks on how efficient VOIP telecommunications can offer a better economic alternative to the expensive fixed-line operators, which, he says, are draining African businesses.
"VOIP can give Africa the means to dramatically reduce communication costs, which are some of the highest in the world."
Moroney says the forum will create an opportunity for Nigeria and its neighbours to introduce competitive phone charges through VOIP technology.
He notes that Lagos is an important base for the forum, as Nigeria is one of the continent`s fastest growing VOIP markets, thanks to huge demand and a progressive regulatory regime that has encouraged VOIP implementation.
Protectionist regulatory laws still exist in many African countries, which are prohibiting the progressive implementation of VOIP solutions in order to protect state-owned incumbent telecom operators, says Moroney.
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