As the digital economy accelerates across the continent, the upcoming OTT Content Streaming Summit – Africa 2026 is set to pivot the industry conversation from basic connectivity to meaningful, affordable access. Taking place on 24 – 25 February 2026 at the GrandWest Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa, the summit—hosted by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and convened by Broadcast Media Africa (BMA) and the Southern African Broadcasters Association (SABA)—will explore the topic: “Creating Access and Driving Affordability with Good Content and Data Strategies.”
According to organisers, the 2026 summit moves beyond the “infrastructure-only” debate, arguing that true access is achieved when premium African content is paired with aggressive, innovative data-saving technologies and localised pricing policies.
The summit will feature a high-level technical and regulatory discussion designed to dismantle the “Digital Premium” that currently limits streaming to the top economic tiers. Key focus areas include:
- Low-Bitrate & AI-Powered Compression: Deep dives into VVC (Versatile Video Coding) and AI-driven encoding that maintains 1080p quality at 50% less data consumption, specifically optimised for fluctuating 4G and 5G mobile networks in Africa.
- The Rise of ‘Sachet’ Content Models: Moving beyond monthly subscriptions to data-bundled, time-bound, or episode-based micropayments that align with the daily-wage economy.
- Carrier Billing & FinTech Integration: Overcoming the “Credit Card Barrier” by integrating OTT platforms with Mobile Money (MoMo) and Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) to streamline the user journey.
- CDN Localisation & Edge Computing: Strategies for hosting content on local servers within African borders to reduce latency and transit costs, ultimately lowering the price point for the end-user.
- Public Broadcaster Digital Mandates: Examining the SABC’s role in leveraging OTT to fulfil public service mandates while maintaining a competitive, data-light commercial edge.
The summit asserts that “Good Content” is not just an artistic choice but a data strategy in its own right. High-engagement, culturally resonant content reduces churn and allows broadcasters to better predict network loads, enabling more efficient data management.
Commenting on this, Mr Benjamin Pius, Publisher and CEO of Broadcast Media Africa (BMA) said, “Affordability is not just about lowering prices; it’s about increasing value. When we provide content that reflects the viewer’s life, delivered through a platform that respects their data limits, we create a sustainable ecosystem. This summit is about the technical and policy ‘how-to’ of that mission.”
By bringing together public broadcasters, private tech giants, and regional bodies, the event aims to create a unified framework for a “Data-Smart” African media ecosystem.
To find out more about this event, visit the event website HERE.
