Page 136 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

ITU Telecom World 2019 Highlights Tech Innovations Improving Lives

A host of life-changing innovations The Awards comprised: ITU Telecom World Event for the first time,
were highlighted at the lively Awards Global SME Awards: recognizing the best were the EQUALS Fellowship winners,
Ceremony, which marked the close of four innovative ICT-based solutions with social 24 talented female entrepreneurs from
busy days of showcasing, networking impact from SMEs present at the event developing countries around the world
and debates at ITU Telecom World 2019. in five classes – Best business model; who exhibited on the showfloor, pitched
Award winning innovations from SMEs, Most innovative use of ICT; Greatest their innovative solutions and took part in
governments and major corporates came social impact and Most scalable solution. the SME Program.
from areas as diverse as online education, The Global SME Excellence Award was AWARD WINNERS
5G airships and drones, green 5G, digital awarded to the SME with the highest all- Global SME Excellence Award: Winner –
addressing, transforming digital heat from around score. Immersion4, Switzerland
datacenters, nanosatellites and enabling Global Industry Awards: for the most Best Business Model: Winner – Vokacom,
barrier free emergency calls. Winners promising innovative solutions with social Ghana
and finalists in several categories were impact in the areas of digital inclusion Most innovative use of ICTs: Winner –
presented with trophies and certificates and principles, meaningful connectivity. Immersion4, Switzerland
by ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao in Solutions and sustainable impact, as Greatest social impact: Winner – UX
the presence of government ministers, selected by a specially-convened expert Information Technologies, Mozambique
industry leaders, representatives of media jury. Most scalable solution: Winner – Prime
and other high-level delegates from across Government Award: awarded to the Molecular Technologies Africa, South
the globe. The Global SME Excellence National Pavilion with the most promising Africa
winner was announced following action- innovative SMEs. ITU Telecom World Industry Awards
packed live pitching from finalists in the Host Country Awards: recognized the best Winners and projects
Awards Ceremony itself. “ITU is delighted and most innovative SME or solutions at Digital Inclusion & Principles: Ruangguru
to announce the Award winners here in the event from Hungary, the event host. App, the largest tech-enabled education
Budapest, where the Awards, along with All SMEs in these categories underwent provider in Southeast Asia, providing a
other international services to SMEs, were a rigorous application and selection better, accessible and more affordable
first launched at ITU Telecom World 2015,” process, with an external jury of social alternative to quality learning for students
said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao. entrepreneurship and tech experts and teachers.
“Since then, we have watched this platform assessing each entrant on the basis of Meaningful Connectivity Solutions: KT
grow, support and promote examples business model, scalability, innovation 5G Skyship, a disaster safety specialized
of tech for good. This week we have and social impact. Those shortlisted for platform integrated with the world’s
showcased and explored the products and the Global SME Awards were invited to first 5G, unmanned airship and drone
solutions that can change lives and make take part in a quick-fire pitching sessions technology.
connectivity truly meaningful. With our ITU in front of an expert jury, during the event, Sustainable Impact: Huawei, Green 5G
Telecom World Award winners, we now as well as benefit from an SME Program Power to boost climate action. The project
recognize another fresh crop of innovators, of workshops, capacity building, pitching innovates technologies that reduce energy
who I hope will now go forth and take their sessions, SME-focused Forum sessions. consumption by up to 20%.
business onto the global stage.” Also among the SME pitchers, joining an ITU Telecom World Government Award:

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