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LINX Accra goes live

Internet

The London Internet Exchange (LINX) has officially announced that its new interconnection point in Ghana, LINX Accra, is now operational

As LINX’s first presence in West Africa, this milestone underscores the organisation’s mission to advance interconnection, strengthen digital infrastructure, and enhance end user experience across the continent. The technical deployment of LINX Accra has been successfully completed at two major data centre locations, Onix and PAIX, forming the foundation of the first phase of this strategic interconnection hub.

The LINX fabric links these sites through redundant fibre routes, a design that distinguishes LINX from other Internet Exchange Points (IXPs). This setup allows networks at both sites to exchange traffic through a method known as peering, a low latency and cost efficient way of routing network traffic. LINX brings over 30 years of global interconnection expertise to support this initiative in the region.

LINX Accra provides a neutral and future ready platform where Internet Service Providers (ISPs), content providers, cloud services, and enterprises can exchange data locally.

Jennifer Holmes, CEO for LINX, stated, “The launch of LINX Accra is a major step forward in our commitment to supporting digital transformation across Africa. By enabling local traffic exchange, and connecting Onix and PAIX via our fabric, we’re helping to build a stronger, more resilient and higher performing internet ecosystem in the region.”

A third interconnection point will soon follow with the launch of the Digital Realty data centre in Accra, which will expand the LINX Accra platform to three sites.

Nurani Nimpuno, head of global engagement for LINX, highlighted the importance of collaboration in such projects, “We are lucky to have such engaged data centre partners here in Ghana. When building IXPs in new geographics, collaboration is key. Our data centre partners are a key part of our business case when building in new locations and success is very much a team effort.”

LINX Accra is now live and open for peering. A 10GE port with 2Gbps of service is included in the US$130 monthly LINX membership fee.

Google Pay launches in Lebanon and Oman, expanding digital wallet access securely. (Image source: Google Pay)

Mobile

Google has officially launched Google Pay in Lebanon and Oman, extending its mobile payment services to two more countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region

As of today, Android phone and Wear OS users in both countries can use Google Pay to make quick, secure, and convenient payments.

With this expansion, users in Lebanon and Oman can now tap to pay in stores where contactless payments are accepted, make purchases in apps, and complete transactions online. The service is integrated with Google Wallet, which also launches today in both countries. Cardholders can securely store their credit or debit cards within the digital wallet, simplifying their everyday payments.

Google Pay enhances payment security by using multiple layers of protection. “This includes industry-standard tokenization, which means when you use Google Pay to pay, transactions are made using a virtual card number (a token). A Token is device-specific and is associated with a dynamic security code that changes with each transaction,” the company explained.

With Google Pay and Google Wallet now available, users in Lebanon and Oman can enjoy a safer and more streamlined digital payment experience, in line with global standards for mobile transactions.

Carel Coetzee CEO of NEC XON. (Image source: NEC XON)

Satellite

Across Africa, industries working in remote and hard-to-reach areas continue to face one pressing challenge: reliable, high-speed connectivity

Mining operations in rural regions, offshore oil platforms, government outposts, and agricultural enterprises often function in locations where fibre deployment is not practical, mobile coverage is inconsistent, and microwave networks are expensive or slow to deploy. For these sectors, data access is not a luxury but a vital operational requirement.

NEC XON, in partnership with Eutelsat OneWeb, is tackling these challenges through an integrated approach. By combining enterprise-grade Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity with innovative last-mile solutions, the company is building a model for connectivity in Africa’s most demanding environments. 

Understanding the challenges of remote operations

Enterprises located far from urban centres face unique connectivity barriers that can directly affect productivity, safety, and growth. Infrastructure gaps remain a major obstacle as fibre and traditional terrestrial networks rarely extend to these sites. Building new infrastructure can take months and cost millions. In industries such as mining, oil and gas, and logistics, operational continuity is crucial. Even short downtime periods can disrupt safety monitoring, halt production, and compromise regulatory compliance.

These industries also require flexibility and resilience. Temporary sites or mobile operations demand scalable solutions that can adapt as the business moves or grows. In areas with inconsistent fibre or mobile coverage, dependable backup connectivity is essential. Without redundancy and resilience, remote operations risk costly disruptions and missed opportunities.

“These challenges require a different approach to connectivity,” commented Wally Beelders, executive: Communications Solutions at NEC XON. “It’s not just about putting a satellite terminal somewhere. It’s about creating a fully integrated, end-to-end service that meets the operational, regulatory, and security requirements of the sectors we serve.”

To strengthen this offering, NEC XON integrates bundled last-mile solutions such as point-to-point, point-to-multipoint, and Super Wi-Fi networks. Carel Coetzee, CEO of NEC XON, explained, “What sets us apart from other distributors is a product portfolio that allows for integrated last-mile solutions. We can stack this on the back end of your OneWeb, which serves as the backhaul. We bundle these solutions together to provide more comprehensive coverage, connecting schools, hospitals, clinics, communities… at a more affordable rate.”

Key differentiators for African industries

The combined NEC XON and OneWeb approach is well suited to Africa’s diverse environments:

  • Fully integrated backhaul and last-mile solutions, providing end-to-end connectivity from satellite terminal to user

  • Rapid deployment, with installations completed within days to bring critical operations online almost immediately

  • Pan-African presence, with NEC XON’s strong footprint across the continent enabling fast response times, local support, and culturally informed engagement

  • Enterprise and carrier-grade reliability, designed for mission-critical applications rather than consumer services

  • Super Wi-Fi technology, offering a coverage radius of up to 1.7 km for enterprise campuses, rural communities, and mobile operations

Through this integration, NEC XON delivers comprehensive coverage in regions once considered inaccessible or too costly to connect. Enterprises and communities can now rely on affordable, dependable connectivity where they need it most.

AfDB and Algeria unite to scale startups and SMEs, fostering innovation, trade, and youth-driven growth in Africa

Commerce

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and Algeria’s Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Startups, and Micro-Enterprises have agreed to deepen cooperation to accelerate the growth of startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa

The announcement came at the close of the fourth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025), hosted in Algiers from 4 to 10 September. Leading the Bank’s delegation, Ousmane Fall, Acting Director of the Industrial and Trade Development Department, highlighted the AfDB’s central role in unlocking finance for African businesses. “Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and startups is one of the key pillars of our work, as defined in the Four Cardinal Points of the Bank group’s new president, Dr Sidi Ould Tah,” said Fall. He added, “The Bank will support SMEs through an innovative approach that combines new financing instruments, advisory services, and policy reforms to promote their emergence across the continent.”

Strengthening private sector engagement

Ahead of discussions with Minister Noureddine Ouadah, the Bank delegation met with Algeria Venture, the state-backed startup accelerator. Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation, particularly by linking Algerian startup funding mechanisms with leading private equity and venture capital funds. They also confirmed plans to jointly take part in the African Startup Conference, scheduled in Algiers from 6 to 9 December 2025, which aims to promote innovation, strengthen networks, and attract investment on a continental scale.

Closing IATF 2025, Minister Ouadah announced the launch of a new investment fund for African startups, an initiative championed by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, underlining Algeria’s commitment to prioritising youth and innovation in shaping Africa’s economic future.

The AfDB’s Non-Sovereign Operations team also presented financing solutions for the private sector while pursuing new strategic collaborations. Engagements with firms such as Solewant Group, a Nigerian steel and coatings leader, illustrated the Bank’s interest in high-impact African companies.

Showcasing innovation and entrepreneurship

The AfDB further contributed to several IATF sessions, including one organised with UNDP’s Timbuktoo initiative and the African Union on “Building an Enabling Startup Ecosystem,” as well as a discussion hosted by Afreximbank’s African Research and Innovation Centre. These platforms enabled the Bank to highlight its Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab and its flagship ENNOVA programme, which helps entrepreneurs expand their operations and access new opportunities.

The IATF Advisory Council, in which the Bank is an active participant, announced that Lagos, Nigeria, will host the fifth edition of the fair in 2027. Reaffirming its commitment, the AfDB stressed that trade, entrepreneurship, and innovation remain central to driving inclusive growth and industrial transformation across the continent.

GeniWatt expands footprint with FG Wilson gensets across Guinea Bissau and Cameroon’s telecom and healthcare sectors. (Image source: GeniWatt)

Power

France-based GeniWatt has enjoyed a string of Africa successes so far in 2025, most recently completing a genset installation at a telecommunications site in Guinea Bissau

The company supplied a P22 generator set, in partnership with Synergy, for telecoms group MTN in the West African country.

The FG Wilson P22 and P33 gensets are “perfectly suited” to telecoms towers, the company noted in a statement, citing soundproof enclosures, safety options, large tanks and telemetry, with full customisation available.

Founded in 2011 by Damien Fétis, president of Secodi, GeniWatt was specially created for the distribution of FG Wilson generators in France, but has extended its footprint deeply into Africa.

West Africa, in particular, has proved fruitful ground so far during 2025.

That includes a string of orders from Cameroon, working together with another local partner, DM Approtech.

Together, the two companies have supplied generators to various groups and associations based in Yaoundé, the nation’s capital.

It includes a 110kVA FG Wilson emergency generator for the Association pour la Promotion de la Femme building, and another emergency generator with its source inverter for the Centre de Formation Sorawell, a separate entity created by the Association pour la Promotion de la Femme.

In addition, the two companies supplied a P22 generator for a new maternity unit financed by the Compassion Sans Frontière association.

Last year, GeniWatt also played a key role in a major dam project in Cameroon, modifying an FG Wilson open P150 for installation at the Nachtigal hydroelectric plant, which sits about 65 kilometres north-east of the capital.

The project included automatic load bank and oil top-up, dual starter with dual battery sets, NFE37-312 GSS2 compliance for safety, a tank with two electric pumps and a manual pump, conducted again alongside DM Approtech, with supervision from EDF to validate the specifications.

Nachtigal is a key strategic project for Cameroon, operated by a consortium that includes energy giant EDF.

The dam’s first turbine is now operational, with full commissioning expected during 2025.

With an expected total capacity of 420 MW, it will eventually cover nearly 30% of Cameroon’s energy needs with clean, available and inexpensive electricity.

Kaspersky launches External Attack Surface module in DFI, giving security teams visibility, risk scoring, and proactive defenses

Security

Kaspersky has unveiled a new External Attack Surface module within its Digital Footprint Intelligence (DFI) service, now accessible through the Threat Intelligence portal

This addition integrates External Attack Surface Management (EASM) features, enabling security teams to continuously oversee and protect their organisation’s external perimeter with improved visibility and control.

For years, the exploitation of public-facing applications has remained the leading method of initial compromise. According to the Kaspersky Incident Response report, these accounted for 39% of incidents in 2024. Furthermore, over 90% of the vulnerabilities targeted by attackers during that year had been publicly disclosed more than twelve months earlier, highlighting weak update and patch management practices in the affected organisations.

With the rapid expansion of digital ecosystems across cloud platforms, third-party applications, and shadow IT, organisations face mounting challenges in maintaining a secure perimeter. The newly introduced module helps by detecting exposed infrastructure, flagging vulnerabilities such as unpatched software or open ports, and assigning risk scores so that security teams can prioritise fixes based on potential business impact.

The External Attack Surface module directly addresses two essential concerns for security leaders: identifying internet-facing assets and determining which ones are at risk. It combines vulnerability scanning, misconfiguration checks, and contextual risk analysis to give enterprises a clear picture of their exposure, along with concrete steps to minimise it.

Unlike tools that provide only a snapshot, this solution also collects and stores historical data. This enables retrospective analysis, trend monitoring, and enhanced incident investigations. Data aggregation from multiple specialised search engines boosts coverage across hosts and services. Each issue discovered is supported by thorough explanations and remediation advice, ensuring teams can move efficiently from detection to resolution.

The value of the module lies not only in enhanced visibility but also in the ability to act decisively. Whether it involves patching outdated software, moving systems behind VPNs, applying WAF rules, or resetting compromised credentials, the module delivers clear and prioritized recommendations that help organizations strengthen defenses before attackers can exploit weaknesses.

“Security teams are under constant pressure to manage an ever-expanding digital perimeter. With the External Attack Surface module, we give them not only visibility of what attackers can see but also recommendations to reduce exposure and respond effectively. By enriching DFI with EASM functionality, we continue to expand the scope of our Threat Intelligence portfolio and deliver cross-product synergies that empower security teams with deeper insights, faster investigations, and more resilient cyber defense.” said Yuliya Novikova, head of digital footprint intelligence at Kaspersky.