Africa Internet Summit (AIS) 2016

AIS is the pinnacle multi-stakeholder event combining, workshops, conferences and networking for the internet Industry. The annual summit attracted internationally renowned Instructors, Experts and Speakers to share the latest innovations and best practices in the Internet industry. The event was a place where the African Technical Institutions and Af* such as AfNOG, AFRINIC, AfREN, AfricaCERT, AfTLD – AROC, ISOC Africa, AfrICANN, AfGWG etc met to reflect on the future on the Internet in Africa.

Meeting the needs of the Africa Internet Community AIS 2016 aimed at meeting the ever-changing needs of the ICT Industry as well as integrating the real world use and impact of IP Technologies. Sessions included technical and business aspects of the Internet: ie Capacity Building, Infrastructure, Security, Policy, Content & Names,Internet Numbers and Research.

The Internet Society, lead by its President and CEO Kathy Brown was in Gaborone, Bostwana for 2 weeks teaching, networking, discussing and shaping the future of ICT in Africa. At AIS 2016 the Internet Society tried to look at what opportunities the Internet could bring to the people across Africa.

Could the world’s next Google, Facebook or Amazon come from Africa? And what needs to be done for that to happen?

The Internet Society believes that AIS 2016 was one of the best places to help give this possibility every chance of becoming a reality.

Highlights of the Internet Society activities @AIS:

• Facilitation of Network Management and Scalable Services courses at the AfNOG Workshops as well as updates on IPv6 in Africa to Africa Governments present at AIS
• Presentations on the Africa IETF Initiative to various stakeholders
• Meeting with Africa National Research and Education Network (NREN) community to inform the support activities the Internet Society has been engaging in Africa
• Presentation to the AIS Newcomers session about the Internet Society
• Discussions with various Network Operator Group (NOGs) regarding their capacity building plans
• Presentation at the main AfNOG Plenary regarding ISOC’s Online Capacity Building activities
• Working Dinner with young entrepreneurs
• Panel Discussion: Connected Women in Africa: By Shining The Light on African women who have already changed so much about the Internet, we explored what needs to change to inspire more. Watch the LiveStream recording here
• Keynote Speech at AIS Opening Ceremony
• Keynote speech at AfNOG Opening Ceremony
• Presentation on IETF at the University of Botswana
• ISOC members @AIS cocktail
• Presentation on local content
• Panel Discussion: Internet Infrastructure Security in Africa
• AF* updates
• BoF Meeting on IETF Africa-Initiative
• Bilateral  meetings with Honorable Tshenolo Arithur Mabeo, MP Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr. Thari G. Pheko, Chief Executive & Ex-Officio Board Member, Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA), Botswana and Mr. Anthony Chigaazira-Executive secretary of the Telecommunication Regulatory Authorities in Southern Africa (CRASA).

Sixteen fellows from 10 different African countries have been sponsored by the Internet Society to attend the fourth Africa Internet Summit in Gaborone, Botswana. The Internet Society has in the past years given a number of fellowship opportunities to African technology experts to come together and attend the Network Management and Scalable Services courses at the AfNOG Workshops. As in previous years, this year’s fellows have had the chance to attend to the various AIS 2016 sessions, which is believed has enabled them deepen their knowledge and contribute to the wider arena of Internet Development in Africa.

Meet our fellows here: