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Rwanda: Ericsson Country Manager explains company’s role in helping Women in ICT

Jacques Kabandana, Country Manager of Ericsson Rwanda is explaining the company’s role in helping Women to achieve their ICT ambitions.

Ericsson has committed a major role to develop female STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) leaders, in support of gender diversity in the workplace. For example, Ericsson is helping the Girl Scouts in the U.S. meet their pledge to put 2.5 million girls in to progressive STEM pipeline by 2025.

  • How has Ericson been involved in this agenda, which is in line with the SDGs 4, 5, 9 and 17 in the Africa region?
  • Give us a picture of How Ericsson has been involved in bridging the gender gap in ICTs

The Ericsson Graduate Program in Africa aims to grow the technical skills of graduates, train them in the Ericsson technology, solutions and their delivery and understanding our processes, methods, and tools. The Graduate Program helps Ericsson to move the needle on gender equality within the field of technology as half of the graduates hired are women.

Inspiring young girls and women to enter in STEM subjects requires role models and motivational education. To that end, we partnered with Technovation for the 2021 challenge. Technovation Girls equips young women (ages 10-18) to become tech entrepreneurs and leaders. With the support of volunteer mentors, girls work in teams to code mobile apps that address real-world problems.

To further demonstrate this commitment, we also created our Connect to Learn program, a global education initiative launched in partnership with like-minded organizations. The global initiative Connect To Learn is tackling access to education head-on. Without quality education, young people have diminished opportunities and are more vulnerable to poor health, early and forced marriage and other forms of violence. Girls in particular have a much greater chance of improving their quality of life through education, with a World Bank study recently showing that every year in secondary school correlates with an 18 percent increase in a girl’s future earning power.Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 aims to ensure inclusive, quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all. Connect to Learn supports this ambition by using technology to give those most in need access to quality education. We believe improving educational opportunities is also vital for achieving other sustainable development goals, such as gender equality.

  • What does this STEM agenda mean to Ericsson?

As digital infrastructure and transaction become increasingly impactful to the development of the African societies and economies, affordable broadband access will need to be extended to over a billion individuals to bridge the digital divide and enable them to reap the benefits of the digital economy. Connectivity plays a key role in powering Africa’s digital future and in achieving a positive impact on people’s lives. And as we progress towards faster and technically superior times – the era of 5G – it is only right that leaders, men and women, of the ICT sector inspire and engage more and more young girls and women to take up STEM studies as a career opportunity, raising awareness for a better tomorrow. Having many more young girls/women join ICT as a career is important not only because diverse and inclusive teams lead to better working environment but also because it has a huge impact on our productivity.   It is imperative that young women are engaged and motivated to stay the course with STEM subjects. That means breaking the barriers to entry and showcasing the impact they can have on an industry like Information and Communications Technology.

We believe that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is the catalyst for digital transformation, with mobile networks being the crucial ingredient in increasing Africa’s economic competitiveness in the global arena. While we have witnessed impressive market developments in recent years, Africa’s ICT sector still has growth potential compared to leading economies. The future of STEM studies as a career choice is truly exciting as many ICT students today will work in jobs that don’t exist yet!

  • Which area in the STEM agenda has Ericson put focus so as to develop in the region?
  • What has been the impact or progress made by Ericsson in promoting this agenda

Technology has the incredible potential to secure the wellbeing of developing economies by transforming education and health services. With education being key to true and sustainable change, Ericsson partnered with UNICEF to help identify connectivity gaps and eliminate the digital divide. Mapping the connectivity landscape is a critical first step towards connecting every school to the internet and providing each child with access to learning opportunities. Through our expertise in ICT we will help to provide an understanding of where connectivity is needed the most; utilizing data engineering and data science capacity to accelerate school connectivity mapping. We will help develop a solution that supports the Giga initiative through the collection, validation, analysis, monitoring and visualization of real-time school connectivity data. The visualization helps governments and the private sector design and deploy digital interventions to support learning for children and young people. The more we’re able to support with digital interventions, the better are young children equipped to tackle a future in STEM.

  • Now that it is clear women have been seriously affected by COVID-19, what plans does Ericsson have in ensuring they regain the progress in integrating gender in ICT- that was attained before COVID-19?

Ericsson has been working to empower women within the industry for over 140 years. We believe gender equality and empowerment is at the heart of our success story, as women have strongly contributed to the company’s successes. But across the wider technology sector, one of the main issues facing companies is that there remains a limited amount of talent within STEM subjects, in which the proportion of women continues to be disproportionately low. A further challenge that many companies face when it comes to gender issues in the workplace is unconscious bias, which may take place unintentionally but has a potentially damaging effect on operations and performances. Globally at Ericsson we are actively de-biasing processes to ensure people processes are as equitable as possible. In an era where data is readily available organizations can study where there are identifiably prone areas of the recruitment and people processes, which allows companies to standardize these processes transparently and make fact-based decisions.

There are huge business benefits to having women in leadership and C-suite positions. For example, an EY study of the top 200 utilities in the world found that companies with high levels of gender equality on their boards had higher returns on investments. In fact, the top 20 most diverse utilities significantly outperformed the bottom 20 – a difference that could be in the millions of dollars or more.A separate study of Fortune 500 companies conducted by Catalyst found that organizations with high levels of gender equality in management positions had 35% better return on equity than firms that hadn’t taken similar steps.

On a broader, macro level, gender parity in labor markets would mean an additional $12 to $28 trillion added to global GDP. To put that in perspective, that’s approximately the value of the American and Chinese economies of today – combined.

Part of achieving more of this will mean nurturing young female talents from an early age, encouraging them to take additional responsibilities and empowering them with the skills they need to succeed. And Ericsson has been working hard to tackle this across the globe and have been a longtime supporter of the ITU-D’s Girls in ICT Day, which aims to create a positive global environment which empowers and encourages young women to choose a field in ICT.It is crucial we continue to run our flagship programs such as Connect To Learnwhich I mentioned earlier, which is a concrete way through which we are supporting the education of women and girls. We strongly encourage girls to study STEM subjects that will prepare them for employment in the ICT sector. Ensuring inclusivity and diversity means practicing these values throughout the consciousness of an organization and we’re proud at Ericsson that throughout the pandemic we have encouraged and supported co-parenting requirements through a range of programs and flexibility. For example, we have programs focused on mental health and work life balance that ensures all genders can cover their personal and professional responsibilities with ease.

We believe we have achieved social awareness and have progressed towards gender equality, however, in terms of achieving the sustainable development goal, we all need to work together to make this a reality for everyone.

  • What are some of the best practices that Ericsson is looking at or committed to promoting that can be replicated in the African region?
  • We have had an ambition to reach 30% female representation across all levels in the company, including our executive leaders, by 2020. We’ve been working hard to ensure that we consider and create diversity and inclusion in everything we do, building teams that reflect our approach. We encourage programs that include a wide variety of people, like mentoring circles and advisory boards
  • We also work with communities to educate young girls about our industry and encourage them to pursue roles within it; Connect to Learnis one of the concrete ways that we are working to support the education of women and girls. We strongly encourage girls to study STEM subjects that will prepare them for employment in the ICT sector. Gender diversity is important for us not only for business reasons but also because we know that jobs in the ICT sector have significant potential to help in the achievement of the gender equality element outlined in the sustainable development goals.
  • We’re also working to address unconscious bias. We have been working on new experiments based on behavioral science in several of our people processes like hiring, performance and succession management. All in effort to mitigate the risk of unconscious bias seeping into decisions of our employee lifecycle. To date two experiments have started with another three planned to kick off.

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Rwanda-France: The science diplomatie

Rwanda’s diplomatic delegates in France visit Ircad France whose Africa branch established in Kigali

The delegation, from the Embassy of Rwanda in France, consists of the Ambassador Dr. Francois Ngarambe, second counselor Ornella KAZE, was received by Prof. Jacques Marescaux, Ircad Founder, during a working visit to the Research Institute against Digestive Cancer (Ircad France) whose first antenna of Africa will be launched in Rwanda in this year 2021.

The visit of the Rwandan delegation strengthens the good relations between Rwanda and international organizations such as Ircad France.

Ambassador Dr Francois Ngarambe, second counselor Ornella KAZE, was received by Prof. Jacques Marescaux, Ircad Founder (Photo Credit @RwandaInFrance).

During the recent webinar that focused on advancing minimally invasive surgery in Africa organized by IRCAD France in partnership with IRCAD Africa, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda was commended for his contribution to the establishment of the IRCAD Africa and acknowledged that being a member of the IRCAD is an added strength to those who are involved in promoting the use of medical technology, especially in surgery.

IRCAD (Institut de Recherche contre les Cancers de l’Appareil Digestif-Research Institute against Digestive Cancer) was founded in 1994 in Strasbourg, France by Prof. Jacques Marescaux, a surgeon fascinated by technology. IRCAD has since become a world leader in advancing and teaching minimally invasive surgery.

IRCAD’s main focus has always been to develop less invasive surgery techniques through research led by the IRCAD research and development team in collaboration with IRCAD surgeons and share those techniques at an international level via training courses.

It has already established an office in Kigali, IRCAD Africa which awaits the official inauguration this year, according to official.

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How Ericsson uses Artificial Intelligence to simplify operations and speed up services

We often hear the word Artificial Intelligence(AI), but also for many who are not very familiar with the technology they rarely understand it while it is important to understand its meaning and its importance in the economic and technological development in today’s world. Todd Ashton, Head of Ericsson South and East Africa is telling us more more about AI and below are excerpts of the Interview : 

Q1. What is AI for Ericsson? 

As a multinational networking and telecommunications company, Artificial Intelligence is a vital skill domain and technology for creating business value in terms of improved performance, higher efficiency, enhanced customer experience as well as creating new business models and use cases for 5G, IoT and enterprises across Africa.

With 5G now a commercial reality, the ability to effectively collect, analyze and autonomously act on real-time data will be an accelerator towards making the digital economy a reality and it will help us create new jobs focusing on more advanced skill sets.

From Ericsson’s perspective and our own implementation of the technology, AI adoption is essential to efficient network management and operations. AI and automation will help address the complexity of 5G networks, drive efficiencies and improve customer experience as well as open new revenue streams for communications service providers (CSPs).

Q2. Why AI is important in our lives?

From both an economic and consumer perspective, AI will revolutionize our lives. In business, across industries, AI is being used in all manner of ways to improve productivity, increase operational efficiencies, and deliver outstanding customer experience.

From a consumer perspective, media streaming platforms such as Spotify and Netflix demonstrate AI in action, as the algorithms analyse user behaviour, and that of people with similar behaviour, to recommend new TV shows, films, and music. But these examples solve simple use cases with simple AI algorithms.

What AI is doing in more complex industries, with more complex challenges is solving and providing use cases where much more economic value is at stake. For example, in the communications sector, connecting everyone, connecting everything, everywhere, at any time, on demand, is an enormously complex task, with equally complex infrastructure and technology. AI helps to solve the challenges along the way, but it doesn’t do so with one broad, general brush.

At Ericsson, we have been working with AI for more than a decade and take a different approach from many others. We develop AI to solve the right problems: the right problems for our customers, and not problems outside of those. We are embedding AI deeply throughout our portfolio and services specific to use cases that can scale to all our customers.

Q3. What projections for the five coming years that one can expect in the use of AI in Rwanda and East Africa?

Digital transformation and innovation are essential solutions to propel Africa towards the future. Connectivity will power Africa’s digital future and in achieving a positive impact on people’s lives. However, smarter, AI fuelled networks will accelerate Africa’s digital agenda, and drive the progress and prospects of 5G in Africa. We see AI as a way to address some of the logistical challenges faced in our business which have been made more obvious during the ongoing crisis related to COVID-19. Ultimately, AI and automation will inevitably create value across the lifecycle of network operations in East Africa.

The unprecedented events of 2020 have brought into focus the critical role that digital infrastructure plays in the functioning of almost every aspect of contemporary society. Africa is home to over a billion people and the population is expected to grow in the coming years. It is also a continent with the most growing economies. ICT is essential for Africa’s development and adequate ICT service deployment and digital connectivity will play a crucial role in achieving economic sustainability in the continent.

The government of Rwanda’s National Artificial Intelligence Policy is a significant step in its aims to harness AI, digital and emerging technologies to support the country’s development goals including sustainable and inclusive growth, become an ICT and Innovation Hub, and position Rwanda as a leader on the African and global stage. We will continue to partner closely with the nation to help develop valuable use cases for AI across the nation in its vision for a sustainable economy.

 Q4: How Ericsson Company is contributing to the development of AI in Rwanda and in this region?

Rwanda’s Information Communications and Technology landscape has significantly evolved over the last few years. Ericsson’s role as a trusted advisor to Rwanda will see the deployment of services such as e-health, e-education, e-government, smart utilities and cybersecurity protection, all propelled by AI to fully leverage the infrastructure investment and empower people to reach their full potential. Our vision of a Networked Society in Africa is being actualized through this and we are happy to be able to support Rwanda on this exciting journey.

Our long-term partnership with Rwanda has previously involved focusing on building capacity and skills in the country that could be handed over to the government along with selected private sector players. Based on the leading role that Rwanda plays in the Smart Africa Alliance, this collaboration will establish a public private partnership model that can benefit other members of the alliance.

Q.5 In the time of the pandemic, Ericsson has been on the forefront in responding to the needs of people in terms of access to speed communication.  What lesson one can get from the experience of the pandemic vis-a -vis speeding of information delivery?

If there’s one thing the pandemic has demonstrated, it’s the value of staying connected.  We see connectivity as a basic human right. The collaboration with telecommunications service providers was key to developing the connectivity solutions we are relying on more than ever today, and it will be key for enabling future innovation to bring us even closer together. ICT standardization efforts are at the heart of creating network solutions that can keep our society running, even under pressure. Safeguarding and strengthening our key digital infrastructures – as well as enabling the continuous development of the underlying technology – will also be crucial as Africa emerges from the crisis – and has the potential to propel Africa into a steep and sustainable growth cycle.

6. How far is Ericsson in deploying 5G Infrastructures in Africa? Can you tell us about the same case in East African Region?

Ericsson is progressing with 5G infrastructure in Africa. Ericsson 5G is now commercially live with MTN in South African cities as of July 2020. Additionally, Telma Madagascar has switched on its 5G commercial network powered by Ericsson. The 5G network is now live in multiple cities in Madagascar.

We are committed to evolving network infrastructure in East Africa, and to that end Airtel Africa agreed to expand its strategic partnership with Ericsson to enable 4G coverage in Kenya. With Ericsson’s Radio Access Network (RAN) and packet core products for 4G, Airtel subscribers will experience enhanced quality of voice and data.  Nearly all radio equipment we have been installing since mid-2016 is upgradeable to 5G, so when the business case makes sense and the regulators allow, we will be able to support our customers in launching 5G across the region.

The network modernization deal, signed in August 2020, is in line with the ‘Kenyan Digital Economy Blueprint Vision 2030’ which aims to provide robust connectivity in rural areas and facilitate e-commerce platforms.

We look forward to further agreements to enhance networks across East Africa.

7 Ericsson and Airtel have recently entered into partnership with Airtel Telecommunication. What fruits are you so far harvesting from the partnership and briefly let us know the components of the partnership?

The modernization deal with our long term partner Airtel will simplify and upgrade the existing network while futureproofing it for the anticipated and rapid expansion of mobile connectivity in the country.

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It’s time to make the business case for gender equality

By Caroline Berns, Head of Talent Acquisition, Ericsson Middle East and Africa

As individuals, families and organizations around the world come together to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, many will focus on the ‘human’ element: celebrating women’s achievements, fundraising for female-focused charities, and raising awareness about women’s equality.

Doing so is vital – but it isn’t the entire story. Far fewer will focus on the business case for gender equality: the very fact that pushing for gender equality makes extremely strong business sense. Around the world, this fact may ultimately be the one that helps business take action to address gender equality.

Resilient and commercially viable organizations, as we all know, play a vital role in economic growth around the world and boost national economies. Within these organizations, women, of course, represent half of the total of employment potential – meaning that developing the talents of women, in turn, increases a particular organization’s competitive advantage.

The statistics speak for themselves: a recent McKinsey study of 1,000 companies across 12 countries found that firms that had taken steps to improve gender equality were more profitable than national averages. A separate study of Fortune 500 companies conducted by Catalyst found that organizations with high levels of gender equality in management positions had 35% better return on equity than firms that hadn’t taken similar steps.

Additionally, an EY study of the top 200 utilities in the world found that companies with high levels of gender equality on their boards had higher returns on investments. In fact, the top 20 most diverse utilities significantly outperformed the bottom 20 – a difference that could be in the millions of dollars or more.

On a broader, macro level, gender parity in labor markets would mean an additional $12 to $28 trillion added to global GDP. To put that in perspective, that’s approximately the value of the American and Chinese economies of today – combined.

Across the region – and indeed, the world – there remains work to be done. The rapid pace of technological changes means that women must continue to be heavily represented in higher education, to allow them to play an equal role in the future economy.

While governments across the region have collectively made a commitment to gender equality in varying degrees and with multiple local programs in place, in the private sector, there remains a concerning lack of true understanding regarding what equality means – there are various factors that must be considered in terms of equal pay, such as bonuses and shares. Examining a wide variety of factors will ensure true gender parity.

We’ve already noted the huge benefit that having women in leadership and C-suite positions would have on a business. Here again, businesses in the region must re-double efforts. Part of this will mean nurturing young female talents from an early age, encouraging them to take additional responsibilities and empowering them with the skills they need to succeed.

The Covid-19 pandemic, of course, has exacerbated the need to focus on these issues. The WEF’s 2020 Gender Gap report, for example, found that while women made up 39% of the global workforce, they represented 54% percent of all job losses. The Pandemic has also intensified challenges that women already faced; working mothers for example have always done a “double shift”—a full day of work, followed by hours spent doing household work and caring for children. As a result of these dynamics, a study from McKinsey conducted in partnership with LeanIn.Org in the US found that more than one in four women are contemplating what many would have considered unthinkable just a few months ago: downshifting their careers or leaving the workforce completely.  In this environment, it is high time to double – or even triple – efforts to ensure that these issues are addressed.

This year, the theme for International Women’s Day is #ChooseToChallenge. Across all sectors, that’s what businesses in this country and the wider MENA region need to do: challenge and call out gender bias and choose to make a change.

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ERICSSON CEO Ekholm: “The pandemic has confirmed that wireless connectivity is critical.”

Speaking to virtual attendees of the 2021 GTI Summit, Ericsson President and CEO, Börje Ekholm, spoke about the importance of wireless connectivity in today’s world, the rollout of 5G in China, and Ericsson’s ongoing role in sustainability.

During a virtual address to the GTI Summit, Ekholm emphasized the critical importance of wireless connectivity in today’s world, which has been underscored by the hardships and increased demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He continued by discussing the substantial increase in digital infrastructure investments made by many governments around the world, spurred by the looming need for post-pandemic economic recovery, and noted that 4G has been an essential connectivity provider.

“We believe a similar dynamic will play out for the first movers in 5G, especially in the enterprise domain,” he added, stating that 5G is poised to become the main choice for access technology, enabling industries to “become digitalized in the same way 4G did for consumers.”

“Countries that lead in the digital world will reap clear competitive advantages,” he said. “Those that fail to do so will inevitably lose competitiveness.”

Commitment to 5G rollout in China

Ekholm highlighted that China, currently retaining the majority of the world’s 5G users, will be a key driver in “critical future requirements and new feature developments in 5G.”

He emphasized Ericsson’s support of open markets and the importance of industry-wide cooperation to further economic growth, acknowledging that the global effort to drive innovation and meet growing demands is supported by hundreds of companies, with China standing out as a leader in 5G investments and deployment. Ekholm affirmed that Ericsson remains committed to maintaining its business activities in China.

“Competition and cooperation together are how the telecom industry grew into one of the largest in the world,” he said. “On the flip side, anything that restricts competition runs the risk of slowing down the industry. Market outcomes should be decided by technical performance and the competitiveness of different solutions and network architectures.”

Future trends and 5G progress

Ericsson has identified network slicing as a key enabler for service providers in addressing 5G’s enterprise potential, prompting the company to launch its recent 5G RAN Slicing solution to support “customized business models and the growing demands of use cases in areas including private networks, mission-critical communications, and critical IoT.”

Ekholm went on to emphasize the company’s commitment to its innovation and industry leadership in 5G core solutions, highlighting China Mobile’s Open UPF initiative, where both companies have been working together and supporting China Mobile’s edge and enterprise offerings.

He also made reference to Ericsson’s smart factory in Nanjing, China, now officially commercialized, where it has been “empowering smart manufacturing with the 5G private network that we jointly deployed with China Mobile.” 5G network coverage is expected to cover the entire factory area (more than 20,000sq m) later this year, and the number of use cases being tested and developed there is set to be increased.

Ericsson’s sustainability efforts

Sustainability remains among Ericsson’s chief priorities for 2021, with the ICT industry overall having the potential to make substantial positive impacts on environmental and climate issues.

Ekholm remarked that beyond the ethical and ecological importance of reducing the company’s carbon footprint and overall energy consumption (for example), it is also a business imperative.

Published last year, Ericsson’s Breaking the energy curve report highlights “a unique network-level approach … [to enabling] exponential growth [in] data traffic without increasing energy consumption,” which would result in significant energy savings and reduced total cost of ownership while paving the way for a more sustainable future.

Today, Ericsson is a key member in a number of active sustainability initiatives, including the 1.5°C Supply Chain Leaders, where it provides support and guidance as a founding member to help unite major multinational organizations in the global fight against climate change.

Looking forward to a brighter future

Overall, Ekholm expressed a sense of optimism regarding the future. “As hard as 2020 has been, I’m excited by the future,” Ekholm concludes. “The pace of innovation has never been higher than it is now.… I’m confident that we can build a new connected future with 5G.”

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Sony Music Publishing ready to bring East African Artists to digital Market

Most of the artists tend to have good artworks like songs, poems, videos but find themselves having difficulties in terms of promoting or publishing them. Similar issues are common among artists around the world and especially in the East African region, in countries such as Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya and even Tanzania where some artists are still facing such hindrances to their music career.

The recent history of the development of the music industry in the East African region clearly shows the rise of music but also shows that many of the local musicians are additionally facing challenges like mainly lack of access to education (music schools), professional managers, publishing houses, record labels and media space.

However, for EAC, progress has been tremendous with the Bongo Flava movement, bringing talents on the digital platforms and creating wealth, business initiatives (festivals, media channels, talent contests…).

But again, as time went on the industry’s popular figures also changed constantly.

Kayiranga Justin, a journalist and fan of gospel songs in his analysis found that in the East African Region many artists make songs but when the time comes, they leave.

“The music in this region is changing constantly. You find that today we have this one special on the market and when you wake up you hear that the popular one has shifted to politics or other businesses’’ Kayiranga observed.

Kayiranga Justin, East African Music, Gospel music Fan   

“You would also find some going into the music but with a different sense of faith to work with extraordinary power or magic power. This is also part of the industry here.” He added

Mr. Justin KAYIRANGA goes on to say that this is in addition to the lack of financial means as one of the reasons why the music in the region is constantly not stable.

In a short interview with an experienced journalist in showbiz, Abdu Bronze, on the other hand, points out the challenges to the development of artists in the region citing an example of Rwandan artists who make their songs but not as effective as those of Nasibu Abdul Juma, popularly known by his stage name Diamond Platnumz, and often referred to as “Simba” or “The King of Bongo-Flava”

“Our local artists for sure needs some professionals to help them either in marketing and professionalism or music mentorship programs for the upcoming musicians” He said

Abdu Bronze noted that perhaps there are a few who have reached the level of writing songs and writing for others. But they are also limited to the local level.

“Of course, this is where the music experts first show up. There some who are able to land music partnerships with the famous brands and their music can reach far and when you hear them, they have a good melody but it is because of the mentorship and other partnerships agreements.” He added

How Sony Music Publishing sets to help regional artists?

Apart from the fact that the artist’s work would be of good quality to reach more audience, it also requires having a real way to publish it, sell it and have a well-known address where fans can access them.

When you follow up, many of the artists find it difficult to find a way to help them get to the bottom of their talents. So here it is clear that there is a need for a real way to deliver art to fans who are from all over the world.

Companies like Sony Music Publishing in Africa continue to make a positive impact in the entertainment industry, not just in East Africa but across the continent.

Christine Mosha, known as “Seven,”leads Marketing and Artist Development for the East Africa region

Last year when Sony Music Entertainment Africa (rebranded Sony Music Publishing) appointed Christine Mosha, known as “Seven,” to lead Marketing and Artist Development for the East Africa region, Mosha revealed that she will build out the company’s roster of local talent and amplify its international repertoire and existing catalogue across the region from her base in Tanzania.

Of course, the company’s main role is publishing work from various artists and actively bringing them available to the world of Entertainment which is the main component in the development of the music and that also plays a crucial role in benefiting the artists by creating popularity and making revenues.

Since its inception, Sony Music Publishing has supported the careers of songwriters and continues to defend their rights.

In order to help East African talents, Sony Music Publishing has continuously kept an eye on developing talents while at the same time put in place the management staff that are ready to help the region’s Artists.

In June 2020, Sony/ATV Music Publishing South Africa announced it has named Munyaradzi Chanetsa (Munya) A&R Manager, Africa, the company clearly wanted Munyaradzi to bring in his expertise for this industry where East African Artists will continue to benefit if they have the good management.

In this role, Munyaradzi is responsible for finding new talent throughout the continent, promoting songwriters’ copyright and careers, and connecting them to larger opportunities around the world.

He is also work closely with colleagues to pitch new and existing repertoire into the marketplace. Grabbing these opportunities for regional artists is an added value to their long-term goals in music career.

 

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My IoT predictions for 2021: Smarter tech will make better business

By ÅsaTamsons, Head of Business Area Technologies & New Businesses, Ericsson

Find out what IoT trends we will see more of in 2021. Among the IoT predictions ranging from digital healthcare, remote learning, connected manufacturing, and micro-mobility to sustainability, the common denominator is the overall accelerated adoption of wireless technologies.

With 2020, the world will never be the same. Nevertheless, I am eager to kick-start an exciting new year. If 2020 was the year to mitigate and manage the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 is the year when “the new normal” becomes a cliché. What is evident is that the pandemic has disrupted daily routines and accelerated the adoption of new technologies, enabling us to work remotely, study from home, and maintain social distance. Many of those trends will continue into 2021, and there are strong implications for the Internet of Things (IoT).  

IoT and connectivity have certainly helped keep us closer on a personal level while we’ve all been physically apart. The pandemic has nudged businesses to push forward with IoT adoption perhaps faster than they would have liked. To unleash the full value of IoT, secure, wireless connectivity is required.   

Here are my IoT predictions for 2021: 

  1. Transition to digital healthcare increases and pop up locations for testing and vaccines become more accessible – and pave the way for a new standard for health care services 
  2. Remote teaching and learning open the doors to new digital experiences and shared resources – but also help democratize the access to knowledge  
  3. Manufacturers and logistics become even smarter, and digital twins offer performance optimization and savings – with growing adoption and broader application 
  4. Micro-mobility solutions transform our mode of transportation in urban environments 
  5. The pandemic may have overshadowed sustainability, but it is the top challenge we have to jointly tackle – becoming the new standard for winning innovation and business  

The upsurge in digital healthcarefor patients and caregivers

5G and IoT have enabled the possibility for remote or robot-led surgeries. Still, the COVID-19 pandemic has given new urgency to the need to limit contact between doctors and patients.   

Those techniques have recently gone from theory to reality. In October 2020, two nine-month-old conjoined twins were successfully separated by doctors at UC Davis’s Children’s Hospital. The two young girls were joined at the head, creating a problem for surgeons because of the complicated network of blood vessels in the head. To map it all out, the doctors used Magic Leap’s mixed reality goggles to plot out what would need to be detangled before setting foot in the operating room – lowering the risk and increasing the chances for a successful surgery.  

Not all the IoT’s impact on healthcare will be in the surgical theater. Better monitoring technology like wearables to track body temperature and heart rate can help people do more at home, reduce the need for doctor visits, and save costs. With the help of connected sensors, regional hospitals can track assets such as hospital beds, ventilators, lifesaving machines and decrease spending time on locating equipment. With 5G and consistent high-speed connectivity, high-quality video virtual check-ups can deliver quality and at scale. 

Pop up COVID-19 test and vaccine locations will also be a focal point for 2021. Offering rapid response solutions with secure wireless connectivity will allow emergency and medical professionals to focus on patients and provide services and tools in new and unexpected venues. 

Remote learning – it can’t be all virtual but can open new doors

Education is one of the sectors most disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are some things about the in-person educational experience that are difficult to replicate with even the best remote technology. Education’s social aspect is not fully transmitted through a screen, but teachers have been nimble and creative. Educators have adopted new tools at first out of necessity and a need to engage remote students. But there’s no reason these trends can’t continue even as the pandemic fades. 5G and IoT technologies can help enable new experiences, like virtual field trips. A virtual tour of a museum won’t be the same as visiting in person, but it can be more engaging and memorable than reading about it in a book.  

IoT can help bridge the digital divide by effectively sharing resources and teachers. In rural areas, students can potentially learn from a calculus teacher from another school. Better IoT applications will make it easier for teachers to virtually “visit” the classroom and interact with students. We will see an increase in digital and virtual teaching and learning methods. 

Smarter manufacturing and supply chains

Rethinking and updating manufacturing, operations, and supply chains will be accelerated even more during 2021. A need to manufacture and produce locally has been driving advances in logistics efficiency. The pandemic has led to the proliferation of smart devices in manufacturing environments. This will continue, even as the virus comes under control as vaccines are distributed. Businesses realize that by incorporating IoT applications into the factory floor, the business and economic benefits quickly materialize. For example, infrared cameras on a production line could replace inspectors, freeing up staff for other duties. A robotic crawler in the heating, ventilation, and air condition system can monitor conditions in a way that’s impossible for a human.   

2021 will be the year of digital twins and 5G. Twinning is when you collect data on a process or machinery to create a predictive model, a digital “twin,” that allows better tracking of wear and tear and maintenance needs. At the end of the day, these operational efficiencies save costs. 

One company taking full advantage of what digital twins and XR offers is Taylor Construction in Australia. With 5G, the construction workers, architects, and production teams have secure high-speed connectivity and low latency to apply holographic building visualization, 360-degree safety scanning, smart sensors on structures, and onsite real-time digital design blueprints. 

Tracking micro-mobility is changing the way we move in cities

As most of us are working from home, our mobility is limited to the proximity of our local community. With changing patterns in using cars and public transportation, other modes of transportation, including electric scooters or electric bikes, become more prevalent.  With e-scooter sharing schemes available in more than 100 cities, across at least 20 countries, from Chile to South Korea to New Zealand, they all have to be connected. IoT is the foundation for connecting and coordinating these scooters and provides connectivity for micro-mobility companies to provide these services.  

Sustainability carries into 2021

In 2020, sustainability was overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, it is a prerequisite for our future. Digital technologies play a pivotal role in helping the global community reduce greenhouse emissions and could enable one third of the 50% global emission reduction needed by 2030, as highlighted in the latest Exponential Roadmap report. As a technology leader, Ericsson has played an active role in setting a precedent and has reduced its emissions by 50%. Digital technologies and IoT enable access to basic human needs like clean water and food. 

According to the United Nations, 3 in 10 people lack access to safely managed drinking water services. Real-time data monitoring and smart systems can ensure water quality. One company addressing the need for clean water is Wayout. Wayout has made it possible for micro-factories to locally produce clean, filtered water with a minimal eco-footprint. Powered by solar panels, the micro-factories offer an advanced water purification system. Smart agriculture is another example of how we can improve our resource efficiency for food production. Stanley Black & Decker has initiated a smart connect water irrigation system for local farmers in India. With intelligent and connected irrigation, the farmers can better manage groundwater resources and leverage the seasons to produce up to 3 crops a year, leading to additional yield and income.   

Smoothing out the bumps

As we proceed with digital transformation on a broader scale, and with increasing speed, there will be bumps in the road. As more devices are incorporated into businesses, standardization and connectivity become increasingly important.  

If we can address those challenges, we can take a significant leap forward in IoT in 2021, with 5G as an innovation platform and sustainability grounded in our business. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of these technologies out of necessity. But they will be with us moving forward as connectivity becomes even more critical to the way we live, learn, and work. And smarter technology will be better and help liberate business. 

Read more about how IoT can transform enterprises

ÅsaTamsons, Head of Business Area Technologies & New Businesses, Ericsson
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HOOZA MEDIA

Ericsson Report shows 6 Findings on the future of enterprises

In a report titled “The dematerialization path to profitability and sustainability, the Future of Enterprises”, Ericsson researchers have found that there six key findings on the Future of Enterprises.

During the survey, quantitative data was collected from 11 markets, through 5,059 online interviews held with respondents aged 18 and older, in Australia, Brazil, China, India, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, the UAE, the UK and the US.

Of these respondents, 2,026 were white-collar information and communications technology (ICT) decision-makers, in enterprises with 5 or more employees.

The remaining 3,033 respondents were white-collar employees, also in enterprises with 5 or more employees.

These respondents are estimated to represent only around 175 million of the roughly 384 million white-collar employees active in the surveyed markets.

The online survey was conducted during September 2020. Qualitative insights were gathered through telepresence interviews with 10 subject matter experts and academic researchers in the US and the EU, as well as with 8 ICT decision-makers in enterprises with 5 or more employees in the US. The interviews were conducted between June and November 2020.

The six key findings of the survey are:

  1. Dematerialization is a key step towards higher profitability and improved sustainability

Today, almost 7 in 10 of the surveyed enterprises have already reached halfway or beyond in their dematerialization journey. Productivity and profitability are named among the key dematerialization benefits by almost half of white-collar decision-makers and close to 4 in 10 say the same for sustainability

  1. By 2030 almost 60 percent of white-collar work is expected to happen outside company premises

With less work taking place at company premises, enterprises must be able to provide their employees with full access to processes and tools regardless of the device they use or whether they are at home or out and about. A decrease in both commuting and CO2 emissions will likely be a result of this shift, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  1. Enterprise usage of extended reality (XR) and 5G is expected to grow by more than 50 percent in the next decade

More than 6 in 10 enterprises expect to use 5G devices, and almost as many will use augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) devices, by 2030. Increased usage of mobile immersive video technology regardless of location is expected to further drive the need for secure, high-speed, low-latency cellular connectivity.

  1. The gig economy comes to the office

 Of white-collar decision-makers, 6 in 10 believe the share of temporary employment will increase significantly within their companies by 2030, in a shift from mainly being a blue-collar phenomenon. However, this evolution is not without its challenges, as 44 percent of white-collar employees fear it could make life more difficult.

  1. Despite worldwide trade conflicts, enterprises continue to grow internationally

While roughly half of all decision-makers agree that trade conflicts and pandemics will continue to be barriers to international trade, currently 6 in 10 domestic enterprises expect to have an international customer base by 2030 and 4 in 10 agree that the ability to hire employees globally will be key by 2030.

  1. Almost three in four enterprises expect their electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030

The switch to renewable energy is a key component in the journey towards a net-zero enterprise. No less than 8 in 10 decision-makers expect to make significant energy savings through the move towards cloud solutions.

For more information about the reportDOWNLOAD IT HERE

Categories
HOOZA MEDIA

Featured: Hooza Media Launches Its Podcast Platform In French

Hooza Media has launched Hooza Podcast a mobile podcast application available on Android and IoS. 

Downloadable under the link https://hoozapodcast.glideapp.io since February 4, the application is free and the content offered accessed free of charge.

On the occasion of this launch, Hooza Media broadcast the audio version of the book “Bisesero, le ghetto de Varsovie Rwandais” by French writer Serge Farnel, published in 2014 and read by the author in our studios.

This audiobook is available in 15-minute episodes published every 2 days on the platform, allowing listeners to continue listening to this story directly and for free on their phones for several weeks.

Testimonies from genocide survivors in Bisesero will also be posted online to allow listeners to be fully immersed and to help them better understand this so sensitive part of the history of Genocide against Tutsi.

At each of these podcasts, a button allows listeners to make a donation to foundations chosen for their determination both to come to the aid of genocide survivors and to fight against any form of denial against this genocide.

This initiative is not for profit and aims to reach French-speaking communities in Rwanda, Africa and around the world.

About Hooza Media

Hooza is a digital media founded in 2013 in Rwanda with a regional office in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. Hooza operates in 10 African countries and supports African governments as well as international organizations in their institutional communication for the mass via mobile phone, the leading medium in Africa. www.hooza.media

About Serge Farnel

French engineer (aeronautics and space), professor and writer, Serge Farnel devoted ten years of his life to fighting, as a journalist, against denial of the genocide against the Tutsi of Rwanda. Pierre Péan will say of him, in one of his books, that he is the one who fought him the most. Invited by the CNLG (National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide), then headed by Jean de Dieu Mucyo, to speak in April 2009 on the occasion of the 15th international symposium, he took the opportunity to collect testimonies that put him on the track of an active participation of white soldiers in the biggest anti-Tutsi massacre: that of May 13, 1994 in Bisesero. On the basis of viewing rushes of these first testimonies, Jean de Dieu Mucyo and Tharcisse Karugarama (then Rwandan Minister of Justice) encouraged him to return to continue his investigation, which Farnel did in the presence of a journalist from the Wall Street Journal.

After the publication of a full page in the American daily, several medias offered space to talk about his findings: Rwandan television, Contact FM, Radio 10, Le Monde, L’Humanité, Golias, RFI,… The site www.bisesero.net gathers information relating to Serge Farnel’s investigation.

Categories
HOOZA MEDIA

Hooza Media launches podcast platform in French!

Kigali, February 4, 2021, Hooza Media has launched Hooza Podcast, a mobile podcast application available on Android and IoS.

Hooza Podcast is downloadable under the following link https://hoozapodcast.glideapp.io

The application is free and the content offered is free to access.

On the occasion of this launch, Hooza Media is set to broadcast the audio version of the book « Bisesero, le Ghetto de Varsovie Rwandais » by French writer Serge Farnel.

The book was published in 2014 and it will be read by the author in Hooza Media studios.

This audiobook will be available in 15-minute episodes published every 2 days on the platform, allowing listeners to continue listening to this story directly and for free on their phones for several weeks.

Testimonies from genocide survivors in Bisesero will also be posted online to allow listeners to be fully occupied and to help them better understand this so sensitive part of the history of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

With each of these podcasts, a button will allow listeners to make a donation to foundations chosen for their determination, both to help survivors of the genocide and to fight against any form of denial against this genocide.

This approach is non-profit and aims to reach French-speaking communities in Rwanda, Africa and around the world.

About Hooza Media:

Hooza is a digital media founded in 2013 in Rwanda with a regional office in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. Hooza operates in 10 African countries and supports African governments as well as international organizations in their institutional communication for the greatest number via the mobile phone, the leading medium in Africa.

About Serge Farnel:

French engineer (aeronautics and space), professor and writer, Serge Farnel devotes ten years of his life to fighting, as a journalist, against denial of the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Invited by the CNLG (National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide), then headed by Jean de Dieu Mucyo, to speak in April 2009 on the occasion of the 15th international symposium, he took the opportunity to collect testimonies that put him on the track of an active participation of whites in the biggest anti-Tutsi massacre: that of May 13, 1994 in Bisesero.

To fully document the testimonies, Jean de Dieu Mucyo and Tharcisse Karugarama (then Rwandan Minister of Justice) encouraged him to return to continue his investigation, which Farnel did in the presence of a journalist from the Wall Street Journal.

The site www.bisesero.net gathers information relating to Serge Farnel’s investigation.


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