ICT conference to change face of telecommunications sector
The Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (Satnac) is set to kick off in Durban on Saturday.
Academics and industry professionals are expected to tackle the changing nature of the telecommunication sector.
Asavela Sigonya and Tapiwa Chindeka are among those with aspirations of changing the country’s telecommunications sector and to find ways to deal with the demands of the digital era.
Sigonya, who is a Master’s Degree candidate at the University of Johannesburg, says her research looks at the use of fibre-based sources to optimise the speed at which data is transmitted.
“That’s why we currently use optical communication networks because of their high data carrying capacity and how fast and efficient they are, with like minimum losses as compared to electrical ones,” says Sigonya.
She adds that the conference will allow ICT professionals to gauge how much more still needs to be done.
“We as the people in ICT are able to look at where we are as an entire country as we move into the digital era. Are we actually moving forward? Where is innovation at in the country? What can we do? What can we focus on in our research that will help us be competitive with other nations?”
She explains her research interest:
Chindeka, a Rhodes University Master’s graduate, says she’s excited about the prospects of growth within the industry.
Like Sigonya, her research is also aimed at optimising the way in which we share information.
“My research looked at Network Function Virtualisation, which is basically a move from using hardware based networking to sort of like more a cloud based, more flexible, more programmable like of network,” Chindeka says.
“The digital world is a fast growing space. I’m keen to see where it’s going.”
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