Internet

Via Africa submarine cable project aims to strengthen network resilience and connectivity diversity across West Africa

A new submarine cable initiative linking Europe and Africa along the Atlantic corridor is moving forward following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by a group of international telecom and digital infrastructure investors

The project, known as Via Africa, is intended to strengthen connectivity capacity, support rising data traffic demand and improve network resilience across the African continent.

The consortium behind the project includes Canalink, GUILAB, International Mauritania Telecom, Orange Group, Orange Côte d'Ivoire, Sonatel and Silverlinks.

The planned subsea system will establish a new route connecting Europe to South Africa, with landing stations expected in the United Kingdom, France and Portugal. The cable will also serve several Atlantic coastal destinations including the Canary Islands, Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria, with further southern extensions planned to increase route diversity and connectivity reliability across additional African markets.

The project is structured around a consortium model that enables participating organisations to jointly invest in the infrastructure while taking part in governance and strategic decision-making. The approach is designed to provide partners with greater operational independence and infrastructure sovereignty while allowing them to contribute directly to decisions concerning system design, deployment and future operation.

Project stakeholders noted that the consortium framework remains open, with opportunities for additional telecom operators and digital infrastructure players to join the initiative at a later stage.

Via Africa is expected to improve the resilience of Africa’s international communications infrastructure by creating an alternative subsea pathway to complement existing cable systems. The new route is intended to strengthen redundancy and diversify connectivity options for countries located along the Atlantic coast.

During the project’s initial phase, consortium members will jointly fund a detailed marine route study aimed at determining the most suitable cable path based on technical, economic and resilience considerations.

At the same time, preparations are underway for the procurement phase, including the selection of a cable manufacturing and deployment partner as the project advances toward implementation.

Telecoming launches DCB Software South Africa to expand AI-driven digital services and telecom partnerships

Telecoming has expanded its African operations with the launch of DCB Software South Africa, a new subsidiary aimed at strengthening the company’s presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing mobile economy markets

The new Johannesburg-based operation will be headed by Javier de Corral, who will oversee business development activities, establish partnerships with telecom operators and build a dedicated local workforce.

The move follows Telecoming’s earlier expansion into Algeria through its subsidiary DCB Software Dzayer, further reinforcing the company’s footprint across the African market.

DCB Software South Africa will function as a regional hub focused on AI-powered digital services, supported by a fully local team. Its activities will cover the creation of digital products, mobile and web-based services, along with digital entertainment and marketplace solutions developed on scalable multi-device platforms designed to enhance user experience.

The subsidiary combines regional market expertise with direct connectivity to telecom operators, digital platforms and local payment ecosystems throughout South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. The business will implement several monetisation strategies, including Direct Carrier Billing (DCB), to improve conversion performance and optimise digital service delivery.

“The launch of DCB Software South Africa marks a key milestone in our global expansion strategy,” said Cyrille Thivat. “We are very excited about the opportunities in South Africa and committed to investing in its digital future. With Javier de Corral at the helm, we are confident that this new subsidiary will not only drive our local growth but also contribute to the broader digital and AI ecosystem.”

Telecoming develops technologies aimed at improving user acquisition, simplifying payment systems and increasing the effectiveness of digital services. Its platforms combine monetisation, advertising and user experience tools while integrating artificial intelligence to deliver scalable, secure and efficient digital solutions.

The establishment of the South African subsidiary further strengthens Telecoming’s strategy to expand its international presence while supporting the growth of Africa’s digital economy through advanced technologies, local expertise and strategic industry partnerships.

MTN Zambia brings 5G smart living home. (Image source: MTN Zambia)

MTN Zambia has formally announced a strategic partnership with Frontlife Engineering Limited aimed at delivering advanced 5G-powered smart security and home automation solutions across Zambia

This collaboration represents a further step in expanding the role of MTN’s 5G technology beyond connectivity, introducing practical Connected Home solutions designed to enhance security, improve efficiency, and elevate everyday convenience.

By integrating MTN Zambia’s strong 5G infrastructure with Frontlife Engineering’s expertise in IT and security systems, the partnership will offer scalable, secure, and future-ready solutions tailored to the evolving needs of households. As part of the agreement, Frontlife Engineering will also act as a 5G lease agent, supporting wider market reach and faster adoption of MTN’s 5G services.

The initiative marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration focused on driving innovation, supporting growth, and delivering meaningful value to customers, while contributing to the broader development of Zambia’s digital ecosystem.

Vertiv strengthens AI cooling strategy with STL acquisition. (Image source: Vertiv)

Vertiv has announced the acquisition of Strategic Thermal Labs LLC (STL), a firm known for its expertise in advanced liquid-cooling solutions

The move enhances Vertiv’s thermal chain strategy by reinforcing engineering capabilities at the critical interface between server-level liquid cooling and the supporting infrastructure, an area that is becoming increasingly important in high-density environments driven by AI and high-performance computing workloads.

As computing demands continue to rise, the relationship between server-side liquid cooling and broader infrastructure plays a growing role in overall system performance. Factors such as flow management, system balance, control dynamics, serviceability and long-term reliability are all influenced by this interaction. By integrating STL’s expertise in cold plate design, server-level cooling and high-density thermal validation, Vertiv aims to strengthen its ability to replicate real-world high-density conditions, refine the interaction between thermal and power systems and support customers throughout the full lifecycle, from design and integration to commissioning and operations.

“As AI and high-performance computing push power densities to unprecedented levels, understanding and solving heat challenges at the chip level becomes critical to system design, performance and reliability,” said Scott Armul, chief product and technology officer at Vertiv.

“STL brings deep expertise and proven capability in addressing some of the industry’s most demanding chip-level density and thermal problems, strengthening Vertiv’s ability to emulate and validate system-level solutions and enabling customers to improve performance and lifecycle outcomes in liquid-cooled environments.”

Vertiv confirmed that the acquisition will not alter its commitment to maintaining an open ecosystem. The company will continue to deliver interoperable infrastructure solutions that remain independent of specific server or silicon technologies, ensuring improved system-level performance across a wide range of computing environments.

The addition of Strategic Thermal Labs aligns with Vertiv’s broader strategy to help customers manage rising infrastructure complexity by combining power, thermal, control and lifecycle service capabilities into integrated solutions.