Press Release
London, 20 June 2011

Africa’s premier telecoms award gala – the AfricaCom Awards - is now in its 4th year, and this year the list of supporting sponsors will include pan-African giant Orange.

Orange is one of the many service providers in Africa that have entered, attended, and won at the AfricaCom Awards ceremony; and this year they will take a more active role, as sponsors of the Orange African Social Venture Prize.  They join Founding Sponsor, Gateway and Category Sponsor, Comviva as this year’s headline endorsers.

The AfricaCom Awards are an unparalleled opportunity for leading players in the African telecoms industry to elevate their projects before their peers, and to contend for the coveted Awards and prestige associated with them. Furthermore, this new award, sponsored by Orange, is in addition to 5 other awards being introduced for the first time this year, as the categories reflect the changing Hot Topics and relevant challenges that have faced the industry in the past year.

There has never been a better occasion to enter. The categories are:

• Best Network Improvement
• Best New Service
• Best Cost Efficiency Initiative for Africa
• Rural Telecoms Award *NEW
• Best Backhaul Solution for Africa *NEW
• Customer Service Excellence Award
• Best Marketing Campaign
• Satellite Service Provider of the Year *NEW
• Best ICT Solution Provider for Enterprise Markets in Africa *NEW
• Best Pan African Initiative
• Changing Lives Award

And the Orange African Social Venture Prize *NEW

The deadline for entries is 2 September 2011.  

This year also presents a fabulous new venue - the Waterfront LookOut, Granger Bay at the V & A Waterfront.  Furthermore, there have been some additions to the panel of judges; including Dobek Pater, Analyst & Director at Africa Analysis, Jean-Pierre Bienaimé, Chairman & Permanent Member with the UMTS Forum, Russell Southwood, Chief Executive of Balancing Act, and Thomas Yieke, Executive VP and COO with Rick Broadman Partners.  

The AfricaCom Awards (Africa’s only dedicated awards for the telecoms industry) has now been celebrating African talent for 4 years, since the inaugural ceremony in 2008. Recognition and acclaim in front of your peers are the real prizes for each award winner.

We look forward to receiving your entries, and to seeing you at the AfricaCom Awards 2011!
For more information on the categories, judging panel, new venue and more visit www.africacomawards.com or contact Emily.Martyr@informa.com

For information on how to sponsor the 2011 awards visit the website at http://www.africacomawards.com/be_involved/sponsor or contact Tanyel.Ali@informa.com

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About Informa Telecoms & Media
Informa Telecoms & Media is the leading provider of business intelligence to global telecoms and media markets.

Our aim is to provide actionable, strategic advice and forecasting on all aspects of converging mobile, fixed, entertainment and IT markets.  Driven by constant first-hand contact with the industry our team of analysts and researchers produce over 300 annual events and intelligence services including news and analytical products, in-depth market reports and data sets.  We benefit from outstanding people, including 100+ analysts, researchers and journalists across 14 countries. Our customers include major blue-chip vendors, operators, and regulators in addition to key players from the financial and content communities.  We are proud of the role we play in bringing the industry together and keeping 100,000 individuals better informed.  www.informatm.com

Contact: Emily Martyr

Phone: +44 (0)20 7017 5610