Digitel Talk

In this episode of Digitel Talk, host Ian Ginn sits down with Wade and Koddi Dunn , the dynamic co-founders of Love Mobile® . Redefining what it means to be a modern telecoms provider, this visionary husband-and-wife team built a prepaid wireless network out of a simple kitchen table conversation and a shared conviction that commerce and community belong together.  Wade and Koddi share the deeply...

In this episode of Digital Talk , host Ian Ginn sits down with Alex Mwaura , the Kenya Country Director for Digital Green . With over 24 years of experience in the humanitarian and development space, Alex shares the incredible journey of how Digital Green is moving beyond traditional video-based extension services to pioneer FarmerChat —an AI-powered mobile assistant designed to help smallholder f...

How do we prepare the next generation for a world where AI and connectivity are a given?  In this episode, host Ian Ginn welcomes Martine de Leeuw , Co-founder and CMO of Chat License , a startup providing a digital "driver's licence" for children. Martina explains the philosophy behind Chat License: a science-backed, gamified app developed with Erasmus University Rotterdam that hel...

How do you connect the 3.5 billion people currently facing a "usage gap" in global connectivity? In this episode of Digitel Talk , host Ian Ginn catches up with first-ever return guest Carlos Oba , the Founder, CEO, and CIO of Dots for Inc .  Fresh off their win at the MWC GloMo Awards for Digital Inclusion, Carlos reveals the incredible growth of his "DC Box" network. We explo...

What happens when a protest campaign decides to build its own smartphone? In this episode of Digitel Talk , Ian Ginn welcomes Monique Lempers , Chief Impact Officer at Fairphone , a social enterprise proving that successful business doesn't have to exploit the planet. Monique shares the 15-year journey of Fairphone—from "shouting outside the tent" to becoming an award-winning indust...

In the opening episode of Season 3 , Ian Ginn is joined by Mats Granryd , former Director General of the GSMA and one of the most influential voices in global telecoms, to explore what real digital inclusion looks like — and why sustainability is no longer a “nice to have”, but the foundation of good business. From bridging the mobile usage gap , to ethical leadership, AI’s impact on energy and so...

In this special Season 2 wrap-up episode, Digitel Talk host Ian Ginn is joined by telecoms industry leader Chris Hogg to reflect on a remarkable year of conversations exploring telecoms and technology for good. Together, they revisit standout stories from across the season — from satellites using Bluetooth to reach the unconnected, and AI helping clear landmines, to drones saving lives, inclusive...

In this episode of Digitel Talk , host Ian Ginn is joined by Nat-Sy Missamou , VP at Orange Energies , to explore how connectivity, mobile money and clean energy are coming together to transform lives across Africa. Nat-Sy shares how Orange evolved from powering telecom towers with solar energy to enabling households, entrepreneurs and entire communities to access affordable, reliable electricity...

In this episode of Digitel Talk , host Ian Ginn speaks with Hans Similon , General Manager of Citymesh Safety Drone, about the world’s first nationwide drone network designed to support emergency services. Hans shares how Citymesh deploys drones-in-a-box across Belgium, ready to take off within 90 seconds to assist fire brigades and police with real-time HD and thermal imaging. Key highlights: Wor...

Fibre speeds without the fibre build? In this episode, Ian sits down with Dr. Omar Bakr , Chief Scientist and Co-Founder of Tarana Wireless , whose mission is to accelerate global access to fast, reliable and affordable broadband. Omar shares the remarkable story of how Tarana emerged from PhD research into a breakthrough wireless platform now delivering gigabit-class fixed broadband — even withou...

Recorded live at FYUZ , this Digitel Talk wrap-up brings together three industry powerhouses — Stéphane Téral , Geoff Hollingworth , and Vishal Mathur — for a fast-paced, insightful conversation on how cloudification, AI, and open architectures are reshaping the telecoms landscape. From the cultural challenges of transforming traditional telcos, to why openness is no longer optional, to the role o...

In this special Network X wrap-up episode of Digitel Talk , host Ian Ginn brings together three industry leaders — Diana Gorelik (Omdia), Markus Kümmerle ( Deutsche Telekom / CAMARA), and Jason Walls ( QA Café ) — to unpack the biggest themes shaping Network X 2025. This episode dives into: The state of fibre deployment across Europe — and why some markets are still falling behind How Wi-Fi 7/8 ,...

Recorded live at Network X 2025 , this episode of Digitel Talk features Dave Stehlin , President and CEO of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) . With over four decades of experience in telecoms, Dave shares how TIA is shaping a more secure, sustainable and connected digital future through global standards — from supply chain security and data centre quality to broadband access and w...

In this episode of Digitel Talk , recorded live at Network X 2025 , host Ian Ginn sits down with Chem Assayag , VP of Home Services Innovation at Orange Innovation , to explore how the telecom giant is shaping the connected home of the future. From sustainable device design and circular economy initiatives to AI-driven customer care and youth protection, Chem reveals how Orange is driving innovati...

In this special wrap-up episode recorded live at Connected Britain 2025 , host Ian Ginn brings together three of the UK telecoms industry’s most recognisable voices — Raj Kalia (Founder & CEO of Peralia Properties), Paddy Paddison (CEO of INCA), and Harry Baldock (Editor at Total Telecom). Together, they unpack the big themes from the conference: from collaboration and consolidation in the alt...

In this episode of Digitel Talk , host Ian Ginn sits down with Philippe Lattes , President and Co-Founder of LEOBLUE , to explore a revolutionary idea: connecting every smartphone on Earth — through satellites and Bluetooth. Philippe shares how his team has achieved what many said was impossible — sending data directly from space to smartphones using existing Bluetooth technology. The goal? To cre...

In this episode of Digitel Talk , recorded live at Connected Britain 2025 , host Ian Ginn sits down with Amy Low , Chief Executive of AbilityNet , to explore how technology can empower everyone — regardless of age, ability, or background. Amy shares inspiring stories from AbilityNet’s mission to make the digital world accessible to all, including how simple tech adaptations are helping older and d...

In this episode of Digitel Talk , recorded live at Connected Britain 2025 , host Ian Ginn sits down with Elizabeth Anderson , CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance , to discuss how we can close the UK’s growing digital divide. Elizabeth reveals that 19 million people across the UK are affected by some form of digital poverty — whether through lack of access, affordability, or basic digital skills. S...

At Connected Britain , host Ian Ginn sits down with Mark Bjornsgaard , Chief Innovation Officer of Deep Green Technologies , to discuss how data centres can drive both digital progress and environmental change. Deep Green’s revolutionary approach captures waste heat from AI-powered data centres and reuses it to heat community swimming pools and district heating systems — saving energy, cutting cos...

In this special AI for Good Summit episode, host Ian Ginn sits down with Rory Collins , Global Information Management & Analytics Advisor at UNOPS . With operations in 22 countries, Rory and his team are using AI, GIS, and advanced data analytics to make communities safer by removing explosive ordnance, securing weapons, and supporting peacebuilding efforts. From predicting high-risk minefield...

Episode Description  In this inspiring episode of Digital Talk , host Ian Ginn sits down with Chaye Cabal-Revilla , CEO of mWell and Chief Finance, Risk, and Sustainability Officer at Metro Pacific Investment Corporation. Together, they explore how mWell is transforming healthcare access in the Philippines through innovative digital solutions. From launching teleconsultations during the pandemic t...

In this episode of Digital Talk , host Ian Ginn speaks with Dr. Manpreet Kaur , Director of Strategy and Product at SidLabs LLP. MP shares her journey from developmental psychology to tech entrepreneurship, highlighting SID Labs’ impactful work in real-time environmental monitoring and community protection. A standout project discussed is a real-time SOS system deployed in the Amazon region of Per...

In this AI for Good special of Digitel Talk , host Ian Ginn speaks with Dr Steffen Kirchgeorg , co-founder of Namu Robotics, about using drones, robotics and AI to tackle one of the planet’s greatest challenges: biodiversity loss. From testing drone-mounted probes in the Amazon rainforest to detecting invasive species in Europe, Steffen shares how Namu Robotics is pioneering new ways of monitoring...

In this AI for Good special episode of Digitel Talk , host Ian Ginn speaks with Leen D'hondt , Director of Technology at the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT). From mapping remote, unmapped regions to empowering local communities with open-source tools, Leen shares how geospatial data can transform lives in low- and middle-income countries. Discover how HOT works with communities to addre...

In this special edition of Digitel Talk , recorded live at the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, host Ian Ginn sits down with Professor Veronica Santos from UCLA to explore the future of human–robot interaction , the role of tactile sensing , and how AI and haptics could redefine connectivity across physical and digital worlds. From demoing wearable haptic rings to exploring “telephones for tou...