Vodacom Business is witnessing an upsurge in demand for ICT services, in particular the application of cloud, M2M and enterprise mobility on the continent.

Last week, the company announced a partnership with IBM to open the first industrial-scale cloud data centre facility on the African continent.

Chief Officer for Vodacom Business Vuyani Jarana says that technology is playing a key role in commercial growth on the continent. ‘CIO’s are looking to gain efficiencies and cut costs by re-looking at IT infrastructure, even leapfogging traditional technology.

‘Technology like cloud is both a disrupter that drives market-level change, and an enabler that allows companies to respond effectively to that change within their own business,’ says Jarana.

ICT solutions like this are uniquely powerful in helping businesses become more robust, more agile and better able to communicate to staff and clients.

‘Only those able to stay on course in terms of strategy, yet respond quickly to customer needs will unlock the opportunity that such technology offers and change brings,’ adds Jarana.

The Africa CEO Forum, taking place on 21 and 22 March in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, is an ideal platform for Vodacom Business to share their experience and expertise of doing business in Africa.

The Forum – considered the foremost international meeting for African CEOs, bankers and investors – has become one of the most important events on the African business calendar, enabling participants to exchange their views and opinions on the issues affecting economic development for companies on the continent.

‘We see our role as a facilitator and integrator – working with business and government to develop relevant and innovative solutions that will meet the growing need for services, products and great experiences. This is how we play a key role accelerating  business growth across the continent.’

Vodacom’s extensive Fixed and Mobile network infrastructure, pan-African and global footprint and its investment in data centre infrastructure provides the ideal platform and environment to deliver ICT services to large, multinational enterprises and governments.