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Africa’s digital infrastructure gap and the urgent need for increased investment in cloud, artificial intelligence (AI), data centres, connectivity and digital services will take centre stage at the third edition of Hyperscalers Convergence Africa (HCA) 2026, scheduled to hold in September.
The event, organised by The Africa Hyperscalers Company, is themed “Africa’s Great Digital Buildout” and is expected to bring together policymakers, regulators, investors, technology companies, infrastructure operators and enterprise leaders to chart a practical roadmap for the continent’s digital expansion.
According to the organisers, Africa’s growing demand for cloud computing, AI, digital payments, streaming services, enterprise platforms and public digital services is putting pressure on the continent to accelerate investment in the underlying infrastructure required to support its digital economy.
HCA 2026 will therefore focus on critical issues including data sovereignty, digital infrastructure financing, cloud adoption, connectivity resilience, AI readiness, energy, data centres and regional market integration.
The summit will also examine how demand from enterprises can be leveraged to accelerate infrastructure development across African markets.
Among the confirmed speakers are the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi; Director of Economy, Infrastructure and Trade at AUDA-NEPAD, Amine Idriss Adoum; Chief Executive Officer, Open Access Data Centres, Dr Ayotunde Coker; Regional Director, Vertiv, Gary Chomse; and Chief Operating Officer/Chief Technical Officer of OPay, Dotun Adekunle.
Others include Senior Vice President, Investments, Africa Finance Corporation, Begna Gebreyes; Chief Executive Officer, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, Muhammed Rudman; Managing Partner, Xalam Analytics, Guy Zibi; Africa Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Chiderah Ike-Okonkwo; Director, Industry Services (Africa), GSMA, Kanwulia Okafor; and Fellow, Carnegie Africa Program, Jane Munga.
Also expected are Executive Director, Africa Hyperscalers, Temitope Osunrinde; Managing Director, Bayobab Nigeria, Josephine Sarouk; Director, Government Affairs, West Africa, Microsoft, Nonye Ujam; Chief Executive Officer, Technology Service Providers Association of Kenya (TESPOK), Dr Fiona Asonga; and Global Data Centre Chair, Informa and Chief Executive Officer, Apolo.us, Bill Kleyman.
Speaking ahead of the event, Osunrinde said the conference was designed to move Africa’s digital infrastructure conversation beyond ambition to actual delivery.
He said the decisions being made today on infrastructure would determine the continent’s digital future over the next 10 to 20 years.
“Africa’s digital future in 10 to 20 years will depend on the infrastructure decisions being made today,” he said.
According to him, HCA 2026 will provide an avenue for key institutions to address challenges around demand, capital, regulation, connectivity, cloud, data centres, AI and digital sovereignty.
“The goal is not only to discuss Africa’s opportunity, but to work with the right institutions to shape a practical delivery agenda for the next phase of growth,” he added.
The conference will also honour pioneers who have contributed to the development of Africa’s digital and telecommunications ecosystem.
Those to be recognised include Chairman, Convergence Partners, Andile Ngcaba; Founder, MainOne, Funke Opeke; Executive Chairman, Cassava Technologies, Strive Masiyiwa; Founding Chief Executive Officer of Vodacom, Alan Knott-Craig Sr; Chief Executive Officer, WIOCC, Chris Wood; and former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Ernest Ndukwe.
Others are Distinguished Technologist for Internet Growth at the Internet Society, Michuki Mwangi; former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo; the late co-founder of Orascom Telecom, Khaled Bichara; and former Chief Executive Officer of Telecom Egypt, Mohamed Nasr.
