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iBurst Global Forum begins next week

By Damaria Senne, ITWeb senior journalist
Johannesburg, 03 Mar 2006

Wireless Business Solutions (WBS) will host the fifth annual iBurst Global Forum from 8 to 10 March at the Hilton Hotel in Sandton. This is the first time the forum is to be held in Africa.

According to Thami Mtshali, CEO of WBS, the major aim of the forum is to facilitate interaction between African ICT stakeholders and companies such as Kyocera and ArrayComm, with a view to determining how these companies can help Africa bridge the digital divide. The forum will focus on mobile broadband in terms of fast and reliable iBurst technology, he says.

Speakers include Martin Cooper, ArrayComm chairman and the inventor of the first handheld mobile phone, and Yasuo Nishigushi, chairman and CEO of Kyocera. Kyocera will unveil a voice over Internet Protocol handset at the event.

The theme of the forum is "Evolving Africa`s Broadband", with representatives from organisations such as New Partnership for Africa`s Development, Development Bank of South Africa and the Industrial Development Corporation scheduled to speak about the positive impact mobile broadband will have on the African continent. Representatives from the Department of Communications and the Independent Communications Authority of SA are also expected to deliver presentations.

Alan Knott-Craig Jr, MD of WBS, says it is fortuitous that the upcoming iBurst Global Forum is taking place in SA, as this country will emerge as iBurst`s gateway to the rest of Africa.

Although the forum is a closed event, a limited number of complimentary invitations will be made to interested members of the public, industry stakeholders and the media. Interested persons can e-mail freedom@wbsmobile.co.za.

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