WITH a forecasted growth figure of 112 per cent, the mobile markets of West Africa would exceed 100 million subscribers by 2011 well over the 2006 figure of 48 million subscribers, according to figures from World Cellular Information Service. This, and other issues will be the focal point of discussion at the GSM 3G West Africa conference and exhibition coming up 19-20 June in Dakar, Senegal. This prestigious event, now in its fourth year, allows for operators and allied businesses in the ECOWAS to learn, network and do business in the region.

Ernest Ndukwe, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) who was inducted as a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) last Thursday at the University of Lagos, and Mr. Ahmad Farroukh, Chief Executive of MTN, Nigeria, are billed to present papers at the event which is expecting over 600 attendees.

GSM 3G West Africa is the premier meeting place for communications decision-makers to discuss the key issues facing the market. The event attracts an unrivaled number of operators, regulators, investment and finance organisations, as well as the vendor community.

With the theme: “Developing Innovative Business Models and Technologies for Maximum Growth in West Africa’s Communications Markets,” GSM 3G West Africa attracts telecom operators and allied business from across the 16 ECOWAS member countries for two days of explosive seminars and products exhibition.

Ndukwe, who has piloted the affairs of NCC into a regional model with about 40 million mobile subscribers in only six years of deregulation of the telecom market in Nigeria will speak on: “Assess the Infrastructure Solutions and New Services in the Deployment of 3G.”

Nigeria, a late starter in the mobile telecom market and with near total dearth of infrastructure, is only now playing catch up in the global playfield, The NCC last April awarded 3G liscences to four operators in the renewed bid to take the sector to international practice standards.

Farroukh, whose MTN Nigeria was recently rated the biggest in the MTN Group with 30 per cent of the total subscribers in 20 countries is expected to speak on: “Examine the Regulatory Requirements to Encourage the Development of West Africa’s Communications Markets.” MTN is also Nigeria’s largest mobile network with over 13 million subscribers and still growing.

Other speakers of GSM 3G West Africa 2007 include: Christian De Faria, Vice President West & Central Africa Region, MTN Group, Tiemoko Coulibaly, Vice President Western Africa, Celtel International,  Joseph Ndong, Minister of Post, Telecommunications and ICT, Senegal, Cheikh-Tidiane Mbaye, Chief Executive Officer, Sonatel, Senegal, Francois Brunet, Managing Director, Orange Cote d’Ivoire, Franççois Nze, Managing Director, Telecel Niger, Tshinsele Beston, Managing Director, Celtel Chad and Azzam Sbaity, Managing Director, Libercell, Liberia.