Next year’s T&D Africa Conference, an official side event of the Africa Energy Indaba, will focus on the use of advanced telecommunications and artificial intelligence (AI) in improving Africa’s energy transmission and distribution (T&D) networks under the theme “Driving innovation in grid operation and protection through advanced telecom solutions”.

On March 6 next year, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, the event will host a session examining the role of telecommunications in supporting grid operations and safeguarding infrastructure. The session will address:

• AI-powered grid optimisation exploring predictive analytics and machine learning for managing energy flow and enhancing reliability.
• Telecom solutions for real-time monitoring, focusing on high-speed communication networks for data exchange and fault detection.
• Infrastructure protection detailing telecom-enabled strategies for automation and cybersecurity.
• Internet of Things applications, including the integration of smart devices and sensors to improve grid connectivity and operations.

The T&D Africa Conference is aligned with the broader Africa Energy Indaba from March 4-6. This side event is expected to attract energy professionals, technology providers and policymakers to discuss solutions for advancing energy transmission and distribution systems.