Vertiv introduces Next Predict, an AI-driven managed service enabling predictive maintenance across power, cooling, and IT systems. (Image source: Vertiv)

Vertiv has launched Vertiv Next Predict, an AI-powered managed service designed to revolutionise data centre maintenance

Moving beyond traditional time-based and reactive approaches, the service industrialises operations by analysing asset behaviour before risks occur. Next Predict represents the latest enhancement in Vertiv’s integrated AI infrastructure portfolio, providing predictive intelligence across power, cooling, and IT systems to establish a unified, resilient foundation for AI-driven data centres.

As AI workloads transform the data centre environment, facilities require greater visibility and control over critical infrastructure to ensure continuous performance at scale. By adopting advanced analytics and predictive maintenance strategies, organisations can proactively address these challenges and maintain reliable operations across distributed environments.

“Data centre operators need innovative technologies to stay ahead of potential risks, as compute intensity rises and infrastructures evolve,” said Ryan Jarvis, vice president of the global services business unit at Vertiv.

“Vertiv Next Predict helps data centres unlock uptime, shifting maintenance from traditional calendar-based routines to a proactive, data-driven strategy. We move from assumptions to informed decisions, by continuously monitoring equipment condition and enabling risk mitigation before potential impacts to operations.”

Vertiv Next Predict uses AI-based anomaly detection to continuously monitor operating conditions and identify deviations from expected behaviour at an early stage. A predictive algorithm evaluates potential operational impacts to determine risk and prioritise response. Root cause analysis isolates contributing factors to support efficient, targeted resolution. Based on system data and the operational context, prescriptive actions are defined and executed, with corrective measures carried out by qualified Vertiv Services personnel.

Built for versatility and future growth, Vertiv Next Predict currently supports a broad and expanding range of Vertiv power and cooling platforms, including battery energy storage solutions and liquid cooling components. The service is designed for scalability, enabling seamless integration with future data centre technologies as part of a unified, grid-to-chip architecture. This approach allows customers to adopt Next Predict today while ensuring the service can evolve alongside their infrastructure requirements.

Vertiv Services brings decades of experience in critical digital infrastructure, a global network of trained technicians, and AI-powered analytics.

For more information about Vertiv Next Predict or Vertiv’s end-to-end power and thermal management solutions, including the OneCore scalable prefabricated data centre infrastructure solution, SmartRun modular overhead IT infrastructure system, and Vertiv’s expanding portfolio for AI and high-density workloads, visit Vertiv’s website.

Cassava and AXON leverage AI and fibre networks to deliver Africa’s first real-time, scalable Operator-as-a-Service. (Image source: Cassava Technolgies)

Cassava Technologiesand AXON Networks have announced a strategic partnership to co-develop, deploy, and manage Africa’s first end-to-end Operator-as-a-Service (OaaS) platform

This collaboration represents a bold step toward unlocking Africa’s AI and digital potential. Customers and service providers will leverage AXON’s AI-ready, real-time, multi-tenant, digital twin-enabled platform across Cassava’s extensive high-speed fibre network to connect millions of people and businesses, opening new avenues for economic growth and innovation.

The partnership was officially unveiled at the Counder Conference 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, the flagship event of the Counder visionary leadership network, which gathers 500 global investors, family office principals, and corporate decision-makers for one of the largest private capital events ever held in the Southern Hemisphere.

Hardy Pemhiwa, President & Group CEO of Cassava Technologies, said: “As businesses of all sizes continue to digitise their operations, the need is for cost-effective, flexible, high-performance network solutions that reduce time-consuming manual design and configurations. By partnering with AXON Networks, we are moving beyond traditional hardware-centric infrastructure to create a truly programmable, AI-managed network, which will significantly reduce operational costs and increase access to customers and service providers.

“This transformation allows us to treat our pan-continental fibre network as a dynamic digital platform, enabling us to provision and modify customer networks in near real-time, rather than days or weeks. We are going beyond connectivity to becoming a partner in the digital transformation journeys of our customers.”

The AI-first OaaS platform lays the foundation for accelerated digital transformation for African enterprises of all sizes, including telecommunications service providers. It will deliver secure, private, high-speed data infrastructure, providing mobile network operators, LEO satellite providers, and ISPs with unprecedented agility, intelligence, and reach. The platform is designed to help these service providers unlock new opportunities for growth, innovation, and AI adoption.

Martin Manniche, CEO and founder of AXON Networks, added: “Partnering with Cassava, with its unmatched fibre footprint across the continent and investment in AI-enabled data centres, to integrate our Operator-as-a-Service platform with real-time digital twin technology at this scale, is incredibly exciting. We’re not just mirroring networks — we’re virtualising an entire infrastructure into a live AI-driven ecosystem that will leverage this extensive backbone, including Cassava’s planned AI-powered factory, to bring growth, prosperity, and the promise of AI sovereignty to Africa and its people. This is a transformational opportunity to provide the foundational platform for the AI economy across the African continent and redefine the future for generations to come, and we couldn’t have found a better partner than Cassava to bring this vision to fruition.”

Michel Weiss, Founding Partner and CEO of Counder, and Leonard Stiegeler, Founding Partner and Chairman, said: “We are honored that Cassava Technologies and AXON Networks have chosen Counder Conference 2026 as the platform for this groundbreaking announcement. This partnership exemplifies exactly what Counder is designed to foster: trusted connections between visionary leaders that spark meaningful collaboration and drive tangible impact. When world-class organizations come together in Cape Town to advance their work in emerging trends & markets, we see the power of our mission in action: connecting leaders to collaborate on tomorrow's most important opportunities.”

AXON’s OaaS solution creates a living, dynamic model of Cassava’s fibre network, which spans over 110,000 km of terrestrial and submarine fibre, satellite capacity, and wireless connectivity. By transforming networks into self-learning, autonomous, and self-optimising systems, AXON’s Digital Twin technology simplifies operations, accelerates service delivery, introduces cost efficiencies, and ensures resilient connectivity at scale.

David Bunei country leader Kenya Oracle and Snehar Shah CEO iXAfrica Data Centres. (Image source: iX Africa)

iXAfrica Data Centre Limited (iXAfrica), the largest hyperscale, carrier-neutral, AI-ready facility in East and Central Africa, has been selected by Oracle to serve as the host partner for its Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) region in Nairobi, Kenya

Announced by H.E. president William Ruto in January 2024, the new public cloud region is designed to meet growing demand for OCI services in the country.

Oracle’s decision to partner with iXAfrica highlights the data centre’s unmatched readiness for hyperscale deployments in Kenya. Built to global cloud standards, the facility offers carrier neutrality, high-density AI capability, resilient power architecture, and close proximity to critical connectivity infrastructure. This positions iXAfrica as the only local facility capable of supporting immediate large-scale public cloud deployments. “We are delighted to be in execution mode to bring OCI to Kenya,” said Snehar Shah, CEO, iXAfrica.

“With this collaboration, iXAfrica is leveraging the renewable energy, talent, and abundant submarine and national connectivity available in our market.”

By hosting OCI locally, iXAfrica will enable regional organisations to accelerate digital transformation, deploy latency-sensitive applications, and deliver AI-powered services closer to end users. The partnership establishes the foundation for a resilient, sovereign, and globally competitive digital economy built on world-class infrastructure within Kenya.

“Around the world, governments and enterprises rely on OCI for its security, scalability, and ability to run mission-critical workloads that enable innovation at scale,” said David Bunei, country leader Kenya, Oracle.

“These unique capabilities and our collaboration with iXAfrica will further support the growth of the country’s digital economy.”

With construction, power, and connectivity infrastructure already in advanced stages, iXAfrica is operating at full execution capacity to support hyperscale cloud platforms. This readiness reflects the company’s commitment to delivering resilient and scalable digital infrastructure that meets the exacting operational requirements of global cloud providers.

Starlink faces affordability, adoption challenges locally

South Africa’s Starlink debate raises questions on affordability, adoption, and opportunities for local WISPsby Jens Langenhorst, specialist RF engineer and vice chair of WAPA

South African media has been flooded with coverage of Starlink for months. Every regulatory update, ministerial statement, or parliamentary objection makes headlines. Amid this intense attention, one question stands out: why is Starlink drawing so much focus?

The regulatory hurdles facing Elon Musk’s satellite service are not unique. Major global technology companies have long navigated South Africa’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) framework when entering the market.

According to Paul Colmer, Executive Member at WAPA, what sets Starlink apart is its requirement for a radio license. Section 9(2)(b) of the Electronic Communications Act mandates 30% equity ownership by historically disadvantaged South Africans, yet SpaceX’s global policy forbids local equity dilution. This conflict has played out in government gazettes, ministerial directives, and parliamentary committee objections throughout 2025.

In December 2025, Communications Minister Solly Malatsi issued a directive instructing ICASA to align its regulations with the ICT Sector Code, which allows Equity Equivalent Investment Programmes (EEIPs) as an alternative to direct ownership. SpaceX has pledged R2.5 billion in local investment, including R500 million to connect 5,000 schools with free internet and equipment. Regulatory clarity now rests with ICASA, and ministerial pressure alone cannot resolve the process.

Yet the media attention raises another question: why the focus on Starlink when OneWeb is already providing LEO services in South Africa through partners like Paratus and Q-KON Africa, and Amazon’s Project Kuiper is preparing to launch? Public interest is overwhelmingly concentrated on Starlink, overshadowing the fundamental issue: who actually needs this service?

Affordability matters

Starlink promises broadband anywhere with fiber-like speeds. But affordability is relative. Pricing in Eswatini and Lesotho indicates monthly subscriptions of R900–R950, plus a R3,800 one-time equipment cost for the Starlink Mini kit. In comparison, FTTH services in South Africa typically cost R950 per month for uncapped 100Mbps, placing Starlink at the premium end of the market.

ICASA’s 2023 report notes 2.7 million fixed broadband subscriptions, 2.47 million of which are FTTH. Households able to pay R950 per month fall largely within LSM7–10, representing 1.3–2.5 million homes. Many of these households already have FTTH or fixed wireless services. Jens Langenhorst points out that the addressable market for Starlink in South Africa is thus limited to incremental adoption, backup use, or mobile connectivity during travel, rather than representing a transformative opportunity.

Lower-income households are being served by innovative WISPs. Fibertime has connected over 250,000 homes with uncapped 100Mbps at R5 per day, targeting 2 million homes by 2028. TooMuchWifi serves over 70 communities in the Western Cape with uncapped internet for over 1 million users at the same daily rate. This starkly contrasts with Starlink’s premium pricing.

Opportunity in Remote Infrastructure

Starlink’s strength lies in areas where traditional infrastructure is not viable: remote farms, forestry stations, villages, and schools. Local WISPs have a major role here. While Starlink has committed to providing free connectivity for 5,000 schools, it is a satellite service, not a full infrastructure provider.

This opens opportunities for WISPs to build networks around Starlink deployments. They can handle last-mile distribution, equipment maintenance, troubleshooting, and integration with local systems. As Langenhorst notes, fixed wireless and fiber solutions have historically failed in these regions because they deliver connectivity only to a single point, not throughout entire campuses or farms. Starlink will face similar challenges without local partners bridging the gap from terminal to end user.

Market Context and Competition

Globally, Starlink has over 7 million subscribers, making South Africa an attractive market even with limited uptake. Demand was evident when over 12,000 “illegal” terminals were sold between 2023 and early 2024, despite regulatory uncertainty.

Starlink will serve a purpose, particularly in areas lacking robust broadband coverage. But South Africa is less critical strategically, and competitors like Amazon’s Project Kuiper and China’s Thousand Sails constellation will be ready to enter as regulatory processes conclude.

LEO satellite services will eventually cover significant parts of South Africa, though universal access remains unlikely. Jens Langenhorst emphasizes that success will depend on strategies tailored to income levels and collaboration with local infrastructure providers to turn satellite connectivity into meaningful internet access for schools, farms, and rural communities.