Building the Talent and Innovation Behind Africa’s Digital Infrastructure 

8 - 10 September 2026

Africa’s digital infrastructure buildout is accelerating - but skills, talent pipelines and innovation capacity are not keeping pace. Without the right people entering the industry, infrastructure assets alone won’t deliver long term impact or growth.

The Startup and Skills Hub brings together startups, telecom and infrastructure operators, cloud platforms, universities, investors and training providers to connect infrastructure investment with people, skills and innovation. Running alongside the main conference, the Hub focuses on practical collaboration - from workforce development and early stage innovation to helping the next generation understand how to build careers in the industry.

What the Hub helps you unlock 

Startups and Innovators 

Direct access to operators, data centre companies and infrastructure owners looking for new technologies, pilots and solutions - and visibility within the wider ITW & Datacloud Africa ecosystem.

Telecom and Infrastructure Operators 

Exposure to emerging startups, automation tools and AI enabled solutions addressing real operational and efficiency challenges across fibre, data centres and networks.

Universities and Training Providers 

Clear insight into industry skill needs, allowing programmes to align more closely with real career pathways and employer demand.

Investors and Accelerators 

Early stage visibility into companies building technologies and services that support Africa’s digital infrastructure ecosystem.

Students and Early Career Talent 

Direct access to the biggest players in the industry, practical insight into career paths across digital infrastructure, and actionable guidance on how to secure roles, build relevant skills and enter the sector.

Agenda highlights 

A practical hub connecting talent, startups and industry to build Africa’s digital infrastructure workforce.

Developing the Talent that Powers Digital Infrastructure
Identifying the most urgent skills gaps across data centres, fibre, cloud and energy - and designing real pathways into the industry.

Turning AI Opportunity into Infrastructure Impact
Exploring practical AI and automation use cases that improve infrastructure performance and operational efficiency.

Startup–Operator Collaboration in Practice
How startups and infrastructure operators work together on pilots, procurement and scale.

Young Talent Expo Tour and Workshop
A dedicated programme for students and earlycareer professionals to meet leading operators, data centre companies and technology providers, learn how the industry works, understand what employers are looking for, and gain actionable insights on how to build a career in digital infrastructure.