Telecom operators, smartphone companies, ICT service -companies and other allied companies will showcase and demonstrate their products and services in a grand exhibition at this year’s West Africa Telecom Summit and Expo (WATSE 2015).

The event to be held on May 21 and 22 will bring together stakeholders interested in pushing the boundaries of the ever-changing telecom market in the West Africa sub-region.

The event, on the theme: “Broadband Driving Economic Growth in West Africa” will also provide the much needed platform to discuss solutions that will facilitate social and economic development.

Announcing the 2015 edition of the Summit, Mr Akin Napthal, the Group CEO & Publisher of MobileWorld magazine said broadband networks had changed the socio-economic climate in the sub-region, but the broad band divide in Africa was still wide compared to the rest of the world.

“While sub-Saharan Africa has been very successful in increasing access to basic voice communications, and Africa’s rapid adoption of the mobile phone is quickly closing the ’digital divide’ in voice services, the broadband access gap between the region and the rest of the world is getting wider. WATS 2015 will provide a compelling environment to discuss broadband as the new frontier for economic growth in West Africa” he said.

Seasoned speakers and experts will at this year’s summit deliberate on the landscape of the telecommunications industry and critical industry related topics and trends currently affecting the telecommunications development.

The summit will also deliver thought-provoking insights from the prime movers of the industry and give delegates the opportunity to hear and network with them in a structured atmosphere of panel discussion.

Meanwhile, the organisers of the annual Ghana Telecom Awards, MobileWorld, have launched the fifth edition of the awards in Accra.

The Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MobileWorld Magazine, Mr Akin Napthal, expressed his joy at the success of the awards for the past five years.

“It is a thing of joy to know that this prestigious award has become the benchmark against the outstanding performances in the industry and a symbol of excellence that marks leadership, quality and innovation,” he said.

He noted that this year’s awards would demonstrate the maturity and success of Ghana’s Information Communications Technology (ICT) industries through strong and diverse shortlisting.

Some of the categories include Smartphone of The Year, Wholesales Carrier of The Year, Telecom Vendor of the year and Customer Service Company of the Year.

Others are Government Agency of The Year; Industry Personality of The Tear; ICT Woman of The Year and CEO of the Year.

According to him, the awards were designed to reward and recognise not only the products and diverse innovations that kept the ICT sector exciting, but also the companies and industry experts who had made the industry great.

“In a few weeks, the nominees will be announced. We are set to take the industry to the next level,” he added.

GNA