Internet

Vodacom Business boosts Sasol’s operations with private network

Vodacom Business deploys mobile private network to enhance Sasol’s Secunda operations

Vodacom Business has successfully deployed a Mobile Private Network (MPN) at Sasol’s synthetic fuel facility in Secunda, Mpumalanga

This partnership represents a significant step forward in using next-generation connectivity to drive greater operational efficiency and digital transformation in heavy industry.

Victor Bester, Sasol’s executive vice-president of operations and projects, explained, “As part of Sasol's digitalisation journey, there is a focus on utilising technology to improve processes that impact safety and efficiency across our facilities. This initiative allows us to accelerate these efforts through improved connectivity and control of the mobile network deployed at our Secunda production facility. Our collaboration with Vodacom Business creates opportunities for us to do things differently and grow our digital maturity. We look forward to the positive impact this advanced connectivity solution will have on our operations.”

Vodacom’s MPN is designed to offer tailored, secure, and high-performance mobile network access – critical for large-scale, high-stakes environments like Sasol’s. Peter Malebye, managing executive at Vodacom Business, said, “Our MPN solution provides a dedicated, secure, and high-performance mobile network tailored to meet the specific needs of Sasol's operations. It delivers the scalability and reliability required to ensure continuity for its mission-and business-critical applications.”

According to Malebye, this level of connectivity enables far more than just smoother communication. “When all of this comes together, an organisation can ultimately bring in other innovations, such as digital twins or enable remote and autonomous operations to improve planning,” he added.

Instead of using Wi-Fi to connect around 3,000 staff across Sasol’s vast facility—which would require an enormous and costly infrastructure rollout—the MPN creates a smarter, more streamlined solution. By integrating Vodacom’s network with Sasol’s internal systems, the site now benefits from better-connected employees, equipment, and assets.

This shift not only enhances real-time monitoring but also boosts safety and compliance, enables more effective asset management, improves team collaboration, and sharpens overall operational performance. Crucially, MPNs deliver consistent coverage in areas where public mobile networks may be patchy or completely unavailable.

Unlike public mobile networks, an MPN provides exclusive access, meaning the network can be fine-tuned for specific operational needs. These networks offer increased control, robust security, and ultra-low latency.

What’s more, data processed via the MPN stays entirely on-site—an essential feature for mission-critical operations like Sasol’s, where high uptime and minimal latency are non-negotiable.

“While MPNs are becoming increasingly relevant in a South African context, they are not yet as widespread as traditional public mobile networks,” Malebye noted. “Vodacom Business has been a pioneer in developing tailored MPN offerings for our clients in the southern African region. When Sasol turned to us to embark on this digital journey, it was a privilege for us to walk alongside them and provide them with solutions they needed to transform their operations while making a positive impact on our country's industrial sector.”

Paratus launches EduLINK for schools

Paratus unveils Starlink-powered solution to boost digital learning in remote African schools

Paratus, a leading pan-African telecommunications provider and authorised Starlink reseller, has launched Paratus EduLINK, a dedicated connectivity solution aimed at transforming internet access in schools located in remote and underserved areas

Under the banner “Empowering Education, Anywhere,” the new initiative harnesses Starlink’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology to ensure that geographic isolation is no longer a barrier to digital learning.

The EduLINK offering is currently available in seven countries—Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia—and is tailored exclusively for schools that hold a recognised Education Certificate. Each EduLINK package includes 2TB of Priority Data per month, along with an additional data buffer to maintain smooth and uninterrupted access to digital education platforms, video conferencing, and other online learning tools.

Installation of the Standard Starlink Kit, which is sold separately, is carried out by Paratus’ local teams, ensuring professional setup, on-the-ground support, customer service and flexible payment solutions within each country.

Paratus has been actively supporting digital education for almost seven years through its collaboration with Eduvision in Namibia. By deploying GEO satellite infrastructure and offering continued technical assistance, Paratus has helped over 12,000 learners and 471 teachers across Namibia access real-time, interactive online learning experiences. The long-term impact has been significant, with measurable improvements in learner participation, comprehension and academic outcomes. This proven success forms the foundation for the broader rollout of EduLINK across multiple African nations.

“Paratus EduLINK is not just about connectivity, it’s about creating equal access to education,” commented Barney Harmse, executive chairman of Paratus Group. “We’re proud to bridge the digital divide for thousands of learners who deserve the same opportunities as anyone else, no matter how remote their location.”

The service takes full advantage of Starlink’s satellite constellation, which delivers high-bandwidth, low-latency internet even in areas where traditional infrastructure is either limited or non-existent. Through EduLINK, schools can unlock a range of digital education opportunities, including online lessons, teacher training, digital assessments and collaborative learning projects—ultimately promoting inclusive education and long-term academic advancement across the continent.

Teraco and NAPAfrica fuel Africa’s digital future

Africa’s leading data ecosystem boosts connectivity, content delivery, and cloud access

Africa’s digital transformation is accelerating, and at the core of this growth is the infrastructure enabling seamless, secure connectivity. Teraco, the continent’s largest carrier-neutral data centre operator, and NAPAfrica, Africa’s biggest Internet Exchange Point (IXP), are playing a pivotal role in scaling Africa’s digital economy

Unprecedented connectivity growth

NAPAfrica recently surpassed 5Tbps of peak traffic – a record-breaking milestone that cements South Africa as the continent’s digital gateway. With 2,244 physical ports and 41.5Tbps of connected capacity, NAPAfrica enables access to over 650 unique networks spanning 50 countries. It was also the first African IXP to support 400Gbps interconnects, all while maintaining a 100% neutral and free-to-peer environment.

By keeping traffic local, NAPAfrica significantly reduces latency and bandwidth costs while enhancing streaming, gaming, and enterprise application performance. This low-cost, high-speed interconnectivity fuels digital inclusion and helps ISPs scale faster.

Teraco: Powering interconnection across Africa

With over 27,500 cross-connects and eight world-class data centres in South Africa, Teraco offers unmatched colocation capacity. Its Isando and Bredell campuses in Johannesburg deliver a combined critical IT load of 134MW, while its Cape Town and Durban sites provide robust coastal interconnection options.

Notably, CT2 in Brackenfell is undergoing a 30MW expansion, scheduled for completion in early 2025. These facilities are powered by sustainable energy and serve as the digital backbone for enterprises, governments, and cloud providers across Africa.

Gateway to global content and cloud

Teraco hosts major global platforms including AWS, Microsoft, Netflix, Cloudflare, and Meta. By placing cache servers and cloud on-ramps at the edge, users experience ultra-low latency and ISPs enjoy lower backhaul costs. Subsea cables such as 2Africa, Equiano, and Seacom directly link to Teraco, ensuring international content is locally accessible.

A platform for economic impact

The impact is clear: local content delivery boosts foreign investment, reduces environmental impact, and enhances digital equality. Teraco and NAPAfrica's commitment to neutrality and sustainability supports innovation and ensures the region is ready for emerging demands like AI and extended reality.

Looking ahead

As Africa’s demand for cloud, broadband, and mobile services grows, Teraco and NAPAfrica continue to expand. From 400Gbps upgrades to regional data centre development, their focus remains on enabling the continent’s digital ambitions.

Whether you’re a network operator, content provider, or enterprise, now is the time to connect. Africa’s digital future starts here – at Teraco and NAPAfrica.

MTN, Chenosis and TransUnion Africa launch credit score tool using mobile call data

Representatives_of_MTN_Chenosis_and_TransUnion

MTN, Chenosis and TransUnion introduce data-driven tool for financial inclusion in SA

In a pioneering move aimed at boosting financial inclusion, MTN and its digital arm, Chenosis, have partnered with TransUnion Africa to introduce the TransUnion Telco Data Score – a new credit scoring tool that uses mobile phone call data records to assess consumers who have little to no formal credit history

This innovative credit model relies on Call Data Records (CDRs), which reveal user activity on mobile networks. The data is analysed to draw connections between phone usage behaviour and financial responsibility. By using these insights, the TransUnion Telco Data Score gives lenders a way to assess New-to-Credit (NTC) individuals and offer them safer, more accessible credit options.

Supporting those excluded from traditional credit

TransUnion estimates that each year, more than 1.4 million South Africans without established credit histories open new accounts – totalling over four million in just the last three years. Despite this, many of these individuals remain outside the formal financial system due to limitations of conventional credit assessment tools, leaving over 16 million adults unaccounted for.

Around 35% of new credit applicants are under 25 and just entering the workforce. Many of them use their first credit opportunities to purchase necessities like workwear, illustrating the demand for solutions tailored to younger, digital-savvy consumers without credit records. Bringing these individuals into the financial fold could add as much as R173 billion to the South African economy.

“With over 500 million people across the continent excluded from formal financial systems, the scale of the challenge is undeniable. Traditional data models fail to reflect the realities of African consumers, leaving millions without access to credit and the opportunities it enables. Financial inclusion isn’t just part of our mission, it’s our mandate,” said Lee Naik, CEO of TransUnion Africa.

“That’s why we believe the only way forward is to think differently, to lead with bold, African-born solutions. Innovations like TransUnion Telco Data Score, designed for Africa, by Africa, are helping us responsibly harness mobile data at scale. In doing so, we’re not only expanding access to credit, but we’re also unlocking economic potential, accelerating inclusive growth, and reshaping the future of finance across the continent.”

Prioritising privacy and secure data use

The CDR-based credit scoring approach is based on explicit user consent and complies with South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). MTN will manage the consent process, while its API platform, Chenosis, provides secure and scalable connectivity between MTN’s data and partners such as TransUnion.

“This partnership demonstrates how mobile technology and secure data sharing can support positive change in the financial sector and unlock new opportunities for millions of South Africans,” said Selorm Adadevoh, group chief commercial officer, MTN Group. “We are committed to ensuring that data is used responsibly, with the customer’s interests at the forefront. This is a model of what responsible innovation can look like.”

Enhancing lending insights and outcomes

The TransUnion Telco Data Score has shown a 25–35% improvement in predicting financial behaviour compared to other alternative scoring models, according to recent pre-launch evaluations in banking and retail.

With better visibility into risk, lenders can use the score to lend more responsibly, identify at-risk borrowers, and help build sustainable credit pathways for new entrants to the credit system. TransUnion data also shows that individuals with low-risk profiles tend to increase their credit usage significantly within 18 months of becoming credit active.

“With Chenosis, we enable collaboration between mobile operators and solution providers while maintaining high security and compliance standards,” said Waseem Amra, general manager – Products and Platforms. “This partnership highlights how secure data access can support innovation in financial services that can transform lives.”

The collaboration between TransUnion Africa, MTN, and Chenosis marks a significant step toward using unconventional data sources to improve financial access. Mobile network data offers a scalable and effective method to evaluate new customers while upholding strong privacy and security standards.

“With this inclusive innovation, TransUnion has taken the lead in creating an impactful solution to one of the continent’s most pressing challenges – finding responsible pathways to greater financial inclusion that will unlock opportunities for individual and national growth. By turning mobile data into meaningful opportunity, we have set the standard in making transformation possible by showing how technology can be used in groundbreaking alternative ways. Together with MTN and Chenosis, we are building a future where every South African, regardless of their financial history, has the chance to be seen, to be trusted, and to thrive,” Naik concluded. “When financial institutions can measure risk more effectively, they can lend more confidently, and more consumers can access opportunity, and that’s a win for everyone.”

TelCables Nigeria boosts Rack Centre’s intercontinental connectivity

Strategic partnership enhances connectivity across Africa, Latin America and beyond

Rack Centre, West Africa’s premier carrier- and cloud-neutral Tier III data centre, has signed a strategic co-location agreement with TelCables Nigeria, a subsidiary of Angola Cables and one of Africa’s most connected network operators

The partnership will see TelCables Nigeria integrate its high-capacity network and cloud infrastructure directly into Rack Centre’s ecosystem, leveraging four international subsea cables – SACS, MONET, SEBRAS and EllaLink.

This deployment significantly strengthens Rack Centre’s intercontinental reach by delivering resilient, low-latency routes to Europe, the Americas and Latin America. It also helps mitigate the risks of future cable outages along West Africa’s coast, a growing concern for regional digital infrastructure.

“Our unique Africa – to – Latin America route via SACS, combined with MONET, SEBRAS and EllaLink, gives customers the lowest - latency paths to the Americas and Europe,” said Fernando Fernandes, CEO of TelCables Nigeria. “Businesses in latency sensitive sectors: financial services, content delivery and real-time communications will experience faster transactions, reduced lag and an enhanced user experience. By hosting at Rack Centre we also localise Clouds2Africa resources, price them in naira, and remove expensive ingress/egress charges or FX exposure.”

The agreement brings several advantages to Rack Centre’s clients, including:

Dark fibre integration for enhanced performance through diverse, redundant connections.
On-net availability of Clouds2Africa’s IaaS, PaaS and CDN services, offered within a localised, data-sovereign environment.
Direct access to leading public cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure and Google Cloud.
High-speed intercontinental connectivity to three continents, including the only direct path between Africa and Latin America.

The collaboration supports Rack Centre’s ongoing expansion, including its new 13.5MW LGS2 facility, designed with sustainability in mind and powered by renewable energy. The campus currently hosts more than 70 carriers, ISPs, and network operators.

“Adding a global operator of Angola Cables’ calibre through TelCables Nigeria dramatically deepens our connectivity fabric,” remarked Lars Johannisson, CEO of Rack Centre. “We can now offer 99.95 % SLA routes to more destinations, enabling enterprises, governments and cloud providers to meet performance and data-residency requirements while keeping traffic local.”