Alpheus Mangale, Cisco SA

The event’s keynote outlines how SA can make the most of 21st century technology

Howard Charney, Cisco senior VP and industry doyen representing the office of the chairman, will be discussing technologies that will drive the future in SA at this year’s Cisco Expo 2013 South Africa.

Drawing on the industry-shaping work he is involved in today, and with more than three decades’ experience, Charney will introduce delegates to the technologies and trends that are accelerating ICT transformation.

Themed “Built for the Human Network”, Cisco Expo 2013 SA will offer delegates a showcase of how the network can transform the way South Africans connect, communicate and collaborate, as well as demonstrate how successfully Cisco’s network meets the needs of businesses to keep companies in SA highly competitive, protected and above all – able to cost-effectively embrace technology today and in the future. Charney’s keynote will outline how SA and the region can prepare for the changes ahead and make the most of the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century through big data, the “Internet of everything” and other emerging technologies.

Charney was a cofounder of 3Com and founded Grand Junction Networks. Grand Junction, which was acquired by Cisco in 1995, developed fast Ethernet and low-cost switching, two technologies that helped drive the global build-out of the Internet. He holds degrees in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MBA and law degree from Santa Clara University, as well as being a licensed patent attorney, a pilot and a longtime ham radio operator.

During the two-day conference, delegates can participate in a range of enlightening sessions run by Cisco executives, subject matter experts and partners. These will include how mobile, social, visual and virtual technologies function as enablers for the next wave of collaboration technologies and how these will empower the workforce; successfully addressing the BYOD challenge; leveraging the data centre through the power of the network with integrated security to accelerate business safely; and the design and deployment of EPC in LTE networks and how these have been successfully introduced globally.

“I am thrilled with the calibre of sponsors that are on board for the expo and proud to be joining forces with some of the leading organisations in South Africa’s ICT industry,” says Alpheus Mangale, GM for Cisco SA. “The expo sponsors will, undoubtedly, benefit from showcasing their technology solutions through our flagship business and technology platform that brings together some of the most prominent ICT professionals in SA. Being my fi rst expo as leader of the Cisco’s South African business, I am excited at the prospect of 2013 being another milestone, record year for the expo programme.”

The official sponsor of Cisco Expo 2013 SA is Bytes Systems Integration, with experience and expertise in the design, implementation and operational management of customised IT solutions, through the integration of hardware and software systems from global technology leaders. Platinum sponsors include Dimension Data, EMC, Telkom Business, and Vodacom. Gold sponsors include Comstor, NetApp, Panduit and Schneider Electric.

Cisco Expo 2013 is a registration-only event. Those interested in attending can register online by visiting www.ciscoexpo.co.za.