At ITW Africa in Nairobi, a keynote panel on “The Telcos of Tomorrow: Driving Business Transformation” examined how operators are rethinking business models, diversifying revenues, and leveraging new technologies to remain relevant in a fast-changing digital economy.
Moderated by Sam Evans, Senior Managing Director at FTI Delta, the panel featured Andrea Carniti, Data & Asset Projects Lead for Africa at Sparkle; Bastien Lia, Wholesale MEA Program Director at Orange; Merima Ziko, Product Director at ZIRA; and Aurelien Bayart, Head of Network Infrastructure for East and Central Africa at Nokia.
Carniti stressed the growing need for value-added services layered on top of core connectivity, citing security as an example. “It’s about building ecosystems that make people collaborate,” he said, but argued that traditional consortium models for infrastructure, such as submarine cables, may no longer be fit for purpose because they were built for national voice-focused operators.
Lia said Orange continues to face investor caution, and explained that while operators are willing to deploy capital into subsea projects, they are more hesitant around local infrastructure. Balancing daily financial pressures with long-term infrastructure financing remains a persistent challenge.
Ziko emphasized the importance of creative partnerships, particularly with hyperscalers, and the role of AI and automation in reshaping telco operations. She noted that reskilling and upskilling are essential if telcos are to truly transform how they work,” she said.
Bayart pointed to new funding avenues. “Pension funds can provide long-term ROI and bring more capital into the sector,” he said. He added that while investors often see Africa as risky, European DFIs remain open to financing, especially for projects like FTTH. He pointed to East Africa’s success with alternative business models, such as selling internet access by the hour, as proof of the need for innovation.
The discussion made clear that tomorrow’s telcos will not survive on connectivity alone. From asset-light models and new financing mechanisms to value-added services and automation, operators are under pressure to reinvent themselves. For Africa’s telcos, transformation is is the only way to capture growth in the continent’s expanding digital economy.
