Broadband evolution, the Internet of Things (IoT) and digital transformation remain top-of-mind for Africa's business leaders, ahead of several industry events scheduled for the latter half of the year – including the annual Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (SATNAC), hosted by Telkom, as well as the Frost & Sullivan Growth, Innovation and Leadership (GIL) Congress 2016.

SATNAC will run under the theme Broadband Evolution – Unlocking the Internet of Things, and will facilitate discussion between telecom operators and vendors over how broadband has changed business.

Digital transformation is directly linked to a business' ability to remain relevant, asserts Frost & Sullivan in an overview of GIL 2016.

Wayne Houghton, Director of Growth Implementation Solutions for Africa at Frost & Sullivan, said, "Many companies are attempting to create new Digital business models which will eventually cannibalise their traditional business, rather than capitulating to new disruptive Digital start-ups."

At the same time Gartner has identified transparently immersive experiences, the perceptual smart machines age, and the platform revolution as three distinct technology trends poised to be the highest priority for organisations, according to the company's 2016 Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies.

Gartner says the trends "create new experiences with unrivalled intelligence and offer platforms that allow organisations to connect with new business ecosystems."

In terms of Africa, analysis from the 2016 Hype Cycle for ICT in Africa suggests that IoT will have the most beneficial impact on local businesses in two-to-five years.

William Hahn, Principal Analyst at Gartner, said, "The level of interest in, and the pace of adoption of ICT in Africa are increasing, and, although Africa's insurance sector is small, it's a key indicator of where IoT opportunities exist and will prove long-lasting."

Gartner adds that the primary usage scenario for the IoT in Africa's insurance sector, initially, will be a 'charging' scenario, in which connected "things" are monetised. "For example, drivers will be charged premiums based not only on how far they drive, but also on how safely they drive and the degree of risk associated with when and where they drive," Hahn added.