Primary research, augmented by desktop research and fieldwork was presently being analysed to highlight the challenges and opportunities within the various functions of local government, the black-owned research house said.
ForgeAhead head of research Adrian Schofield said: "Our 2005 research includes data from more than 70% of the municipalities and districts, giving us the clearest view yet on the ICT challenges and successes in local government.
"Our reports will provide essential insight for public and private sectors to improve the contribution of technology to service delivery."
Schofield will deliver a presentation at the summit outlining the current status in each of the nine provinces.
International speakers - from as far afield as Australia, Germany and Kenya - will discuss issues including the business of local government, the challenges and opportunities for developing economies as well as the status of open source software with regards to its successes and challenges.
Communications director-general Lyndall Shope-Mafole will deliver a paper on converging ICT infrastructures.
Her address will be complemented with plenary presentations from two government departments, Telkom (TKG) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa's Development Fund.
Forming part of the summit will be three parallel breakaway workshops focusing on Local Economic Development and Tourism, Social Development in addition to Infrastructure Services and Public Sector Administration.
Within these breakaway sessions, ICT case studies and solutions will be presented for discussion.
The case studies will include skills and capacity- building, tele-medicine and local revenue collection.