Ericsson strengthens presence in Zambia. (Image source: Ericsson)

Ericsson has officially opened its new office in Lusaka, Zambia, marking a major milestone in strengthening its footprint across the country and wider region

The move aligns with Zambia’s National Digital Transformation Strategy 2023 to 2027 and supports the nation’s push towards advanced, inclusive digitalisation.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by His Excellency Felix Mutati, Minister of Science and Technology in Zambia, His Excellency Johan Hallenborg, Swedish Ambassador to Zambia, Alain Maupin, vice-president and head of Ericsson East and North Africa, along with several distinguished guests.

The new Lusaka office deepens Ericsson’s collaboration with its partners and customers in Zambia. It will help accelerate their digital transformation journeys by giving them access to the company’s latest technologies and solutions, improving talent development initiatives, and expanding Ericsson’s operational presence. Through this expansion, Ericsson aims to deliver cutting edge products that support national digital growth and promote wider digital inclusion.

Felix Mutati, Minister of Technology and Science in Zambia, commented, “Ericsson’s strengthened presence in Zambia marks an important step as we continue advancing our national digital transformation agenda. This development supports our efforts to expand connectivity, empower innovation, and ensure that digital technologies contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable future for all Zambians.”

His Excellency Johan Hallenborg, Swedish Ambassador to Zambia, said, “Sweden and Zambia share a strong partnership built on innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth. Ericsson’s new office is a testament to the enduring collaboration between our nations, enabling technology to act as a bridge for opportunity and development. This milestone reflects our shared ambition to leverage digitalization as a driver for economic growth and social progress.”

Alain Maupin, Vice President and Head of Ericsson East and North Africa at Ericsson Europe, Middle East and Africa, says: “Establishing a new office in Lusaka reinforces our long-term commitment to Zambia and our ambition to advance digital inclusion across Africa in line with our #AfricaInMotion vision. This presence enables us to collaborate more closely with our partners, customers, and stakeholders, ensuring that our solutions continue to deliver high-performing, energy-efficient networks that meet national connectivity goals.”

With nearly two decades of presence in Zambia, Ericsson has played a key role in advancing the country’s telecommunications sector. The company has supported network operators in expanding mobile services, strengthening connectivity, and enabling the growth of digital services across the nation.

MPT becomes Africa’s first company endorsed under the European Code of Conduct. (Image source: Master Power Technologies)

Master Power Technologies (MPT), a leading African specialist in critical power and data centre infrastructure, has become the first company from Africa to receive official recognition as an Endorser of the European Code of Conduct for Energy Efficiency in Data Centres

This achievement places MPT among the continent’s top champions of sustainable data centre design. It also confirms the company’s commitment to meeting the highest international standards for energy efficiency and responsible power usage.

The certification was granted by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), which recognises organisations that design and support data centres according to stringent energy-management best practices. With this endorsement, MPT joins a select roster of global leaders, such as Microsoft, who have earned this distinction.

“This is a proud moment for Africa. We have always believed that African engineering can meet and exceed global benchmarks. Now, with this certification, we can confidently assure our clients that their data centres are being built to the same standards as the best in Europe, efficient, sustainable and future-ready,” said Menno Parsons, founder and CEO of MPT.

Gold standard for data centre design

The European Code of Conduct was introduced to address rising concerns over the growing energy demands of data centres. Since launching in 2008, it has evolved into the leading benchmark for energy-efficient data centre design and operations across the EU. Until now, no African engineering company had secured certification within this framework.

Bernard Lecanu, managing director at BL International Consultant and one of the original creators of the Code, welcomed MPT’s achievement.

“When we began this initiative, we knew that the data centre industry would need to evolve rapidly to meet environmental and energy challenges. MPT’s achievement is not only a first for Africa, it is also a signal that the continent is ready to lead in sustainable digital infrastructure.”

For MPT’s clients, the certification provides clear and measurable value. It validates that their facilities are engineered for optimal energy performance, helping reduce operational expenditure and minimise environmental impact. It also boosts trust among international partners, especially those aligning with the EU’s Taxonomy Regulation and broader sustainability requirements.

Boost for Africa’s data centre industry

Beyond its commercial advantages, MPT’s endorsement delivers a significant push for Africa’s rapidly expanding data centre sector. As digital adoption accelerates across the continent, demand for resilient, efficient infrastructure is increasing. MPT’s success sets a new benchmark and supports the development of an African Code of Conduct, an initiative the company is helping shape in collaboration with European bodies.

“This is just the beginning. We are not only building data centres, we are also helping to build a sustainable digital future for Africa. This certification proves that African engineering can meet the most demanding global standards and gives our clients the confidence that every facility we design is optimised for performance, resilience, and environmental responsibility,” remarked Parsons.

“It also opens the door for deeper collaboration with European partners and policymakers, ensuring that Africa is not just catching up, but actively shaping the future of data centre innovation. We are proud to lead this transformation and are ready to help others follow.”

Paratus 500 marks a bold new chapter as Paratus Group redefines sub-equatorial reach with seamless, scalable connectivity

Paratus Group has introduced “Paratus 500,” marking a major milestone following the Group’s expansion into seven additional African markets this year, namely Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe

With this growth, Paratus is now licensed to operate in 15 African countries, making it one of the first pan African telcos to reach more than 500 million people south of the equator, representing over one third of Africa’s population and GDP.

Paratus 500 allows the Group to interconnect its 15 licensed operations through a unified and contiguous telecom network. This extensive infrastructure includes a mix of terrestrial fiber routes, strategic subsea cable landings and advanced satellite integration, including Starlink, to deliver secure, scalable and high quality connectivity across sub equatorial Africa.

Built on sustained investment in infrastructure, local subsidiaries and strategic alliances, Paratus 500 incorporates the East West Connect route, stretching from Maputo on Africa’s east coast, through Johannesburg, across Botswana and Namibia, to the west coast at the Equiano Cable Landing Station in Swakopmund. The Group also operates five satellite teleports and supports nearly 10,000 active satellite services to ensure reliable coverage across all its markets.

Other key routes include links from Johannesburg to Lubumbashi in southern DRC, running through Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. In Botswana, Paratus has deployed diverse fiber pathways across multiple towns to boost nationwide coverage and cross border resilience.

Subsea infrastructure remains a crucial element of the Paratus 500 ecosystem, with international landing points in Angola (Luanda), DRC (Kinshasa), France (Marseilles), Kenya (Nairobi), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Mozambique (Maputo), Namibia (Windhoek), South Africa (Pretoria) and Tanzania (Dar es Salaam), ensuring direct access to major global internet hubs. The network also extends across the Atlantic to Brazil (Fortaleze), the United States (Miami and New York), the Netherlands (Amsterdam) and the United Kingdom (London).

The Paratus Express Route, powered by the Equiano subsea cable, offers the lowest latency international connectivity from Johannesburg and Namibia to Europe and the USA, delivering up to 20 times the capacity of previous West Coast systems.

Further strengthening its regional footprint, Paratus has incorporated LEO (low earth orbit) satellite services, improving coverage and ensuring dependable connectivity in underserved and remote locations where terrestrial networks are limited.

Schalk Erasmus, CEO of Paratus Group, commented, “With Paratus 500, we now have the most coverage under licence in sub equatorial Africa, a goal we have worked towards for many years. This milestone enables us to connect people and businesses across the region with reliable, high quality network services. Our continued investment in fiber, satellite and strategic partnerships empowers us to deliver scalable connectivity solutions to wholesale, enterprise and individual customers, providing the freedom to connect anywhere, anytime.”

Paratus 500 reflects long term investment in resilient infrastructure, local operations and strategic partnerships across the region. This foundation supports an end to end connectivity offering that spans fiber, satellite, microwave, SD WAN and MPLS technologies, ensuring a robust, scalable and customer driven platform that enables growth and opportunity throughout the region.