The African Internet Service Providers (ISP) Association and the ISP Association of Nigeria have joined an impressive list of industry bodies supporting the third African VoIP Forum to be held in Lagos over 21-23 August - with the theme "The developmental and business imperatives of IP telephony in Africa". The event is being hosted by Africa`s foremost organiser of computing and communication events, AITEC Africa, in partnership with leading Nigerian ICT magazine, IT Edge. The event is being supported by major industry groups in Nigeria, including the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), and the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS). "This is a welcome change in event themes and focus. We are glad to associate with an event of this nature that seeks to focus on one of the most important issues in the industry today," said Dr Chris Nwannenna, president of the NCS in Lagos. To the NIG, the Forum promises to incite positive input from stakeholders on IP which tended to be viewed by suspicion by a section of the industry. "Now the industry has a chance to talk sincerely and objectively on a technology that is changing everything," said Lanre Ajayi, president of the NIG. The Forum is being held under the auspices of the Nigerian Communications Commission, which has taken a lead among African regulators in addressing the issue of IP technology with a view to stimulating continuous growth in the industry. The NCC is held in high esteem globally for its forward and practical approach in adopting regulatory and technology policies that have helped position Nigeria as one of the fastest growing communications markets in the world.