Vodafone Egypt Hosts the Country’s Largest Accessibility Conference to Promote Digital Inclusion
Vodafone Egypt hosted the third-party industry event, “New Horizons for Accessibility and Inclusion,” organized by the Vodacom Group on November 9, 2026, positioning it as the largest conference of its kind ever held in Egypt to address customer accessibility and the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Held at Giza Palace Hotel under the theme “Every Connection Starts with Accessibility,” the event brought together approximately 200 participants from government institutions, the private sector, international organizations and civil society, with strong representation from persons with disabilities.
The conference aimed to move accessibility beyond policy commitments by identifying practical measures to make products, services and customer experiences more inclusive.
Government and Business Leaders Join Accessibility Discussions
The event opened with keynote addresses by Dr. Maya Morsy, Minister of Social Solidarity, and Mohamed Abdallah, CEO and Managing Director of Vodafone Egypt and Regional CEO for International Markets at Vodacom Group.
Senior executives from Vodacom also attended, including Ayman Essam, Chief External Affairs Officer at Vodacom Group; Khalil Amerikani, CEO of Vodacom Democratic Republic of the Congo; and Mohale Ralebitso, CEO of Vodacom Lesotho.
Representatives from the African Union Commission, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the National Council for Persons with Disabilities and the Able Differently Fund also participated, alongside development partners and civil society organizations.
Advancing Accessibility Through Technology and Investment
Throughout the conference, leaders and experts explored practical ways to translate accessibility policies into measurable action across Africa.
Discussions focused on ensuring that persons with disabilities play an active role in decisions affecting them, demonstrating the business case for inclusion and mobilizing investment and technology to accelerate progress.
Participants emphasized that meaningful change requires coordinated efforts among governments, businesses, development partners and people with disabilities to integrate accessibility into policies, products, services and everyday customer experiences.
Africa Access Lab Showcases Assistive Solutions
As part of the conference program, the Africa Access Lab presented Vodafone Egypt's accessible branch experience alongside nine startups and organizations showcasing assistive solutions.
The technologies addressed a wide range of needs, including visual and hearing impairments, communication difficulties, physical and mobility disabilities, intellectual disabilities and neurodiversity.
The exhibition also featured solutions supporting inclusive education, employment opportunities and digital accessibility.
Selected startups will receive free digital consultancy and mentoring services from Vodafone Business, while one outstanding startup will be granted free listing on the Vodafone Business digital marketplace, helping it expand its digital capabilities and reach more business customers.
Vodacom Launches Its Accessibility Guide
One of the conference's key announcements was the launch of the Vodacom Accessibility Guide, designed to provide the group's markets and partners with a practical framework for integrating accessibility into products, services and customer experiences.
The guide seeks to establish consistent accessibility standards across Vodacom's markets while serving as a reference for organizations outside the group looking to strengthen their inclusion practices.
Vodafone Egypt Reports 47.4% Growth in New Customers with Disabilities
The conference also highlighted Vodafone Egypt's progress in accessibility, with the company reporting a 47.4% increase in acquiring new customers with disabilities over a period of just 10 months.
Its initiatives include operating Egypt's first specialized contact center for deaf and hard-of-hearing customers, which has been running since 2016.
The company has also trained branch employees in sign language and appropriate communication practices when serving people with disabilities.
In addition, Vodafone Egypt introduced an accessibility tool on its website supporting nine disability categories, recording more than 1.2 million clicks over nine months.
The company is also advancing a plan to make all its branches fully accessible within the next three years.
Building a More Inclusive Digital Future Across Africa
The conference concluded with a shared commitment to creating a more accessible Africa, where inclusion is embedded in the way governments, businesses and communities deliver services.
Vodafone Egypt and Vodacom said hosting the event strengthens Egypt's position as a regional accessibility hub while laying the groundwork for long-term partnerships to turn commitments into practical initiatives across the continent.
