Internet

Wingu Africa secures funding for expansion

Wingu Africa expands data centres to power East Africa’s connectivity

Wingu Africa, East Africa’s leading carrier-neutral data centre operator, has secured US$60mn in funding to boost its expansion efforts and drive digital transformation across the continent

The investment, provided by Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), a top-tier African corporate and investment bank, will fund the deployment of advanced infrastructure in key regional markets, responding to the growing need for secure and interconnected digital services.

The company, which already supports over 40 premium clients—including major telecom operators, hyperscale cloud providers, content platforms, and financial firms—designs its facilities with robust power, cooling, and security features, ensuring reliability for high-demand digital workloads.

“This is not just an investment in infrastructure, it’s an investment in Africa’s digital independence,” stated Anthony Voscarides, Group CEO at Wingu. “We’re expanding the capacity that will empower innovation, accelerate economic growth, and connect Africa to the future.”

Expanding digital infrastructure

Wingu is actively growing its footprint in Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, reinforcing its role as a critical enabler of hyperscale, enterprise, and cloud connectivity across East Africa.

Recent developments include the commissioning of its second data centre in Djibouti, which features the nation’s first fully integrated cable landing station and colocation facility. Combined, Wingu’s two sites offer redundancy and direct access to 12 active submarine cables, with more to be added. Another highlight is the debut of the AMS-IX Djibouti internet exchange, launched in partnership with AMS-IX to build on the DjIX infrastructure.

In Ethiopia, Wingu’s Tier III-certified campus is home to the ADDIX internet exchange, laying strong foundations for content and cloud distribution. Meanwhile, in Tanzania, the company is expanding its Dar es Salaam campus, tripling its capacity and rolling out next-gen infrastructure, including enhanced links to subsea cable systems, to cater to surging cloud and enterprise demands.

Wingu’s offering extends beyond colocation services. It delivers Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Cloud as a Service (CaaS), and satellite teleport solutions, enabling customers to access scalable, low-latency environments that grow with their needs. Leading digital infrastructure providers such as Bayobab Africa and Cloudflare are already leveraging Wingu’s platform to deliver essential services across the region.

“The mission is clear: to build the digital backbone of Africa,” said Demos Kyriacou, Deputy CEO, chief operating officer and co-founder. “We’re delivering at scale, with neutrality, trust, and vision, enabling the continent’s digital sovereignty and future growth.”

Corrie Cronje, senior transactor at RMB, remarked, “RMB is proud to support Wingu Africa’s commitment to advancing digital growth across the continent. By financing the deployment of essential digital infrastructure throughout East Africa we are investing in a connected future for all.”

New remittance pathway unlocks financial inclusion in Mali

TerraPay partners with Wave Mobile Money to expand seamless cross-border remittances into Mali

TerraPay, a global digital payments company, has entered a strategic partnership with Wave Mobile Money, a leading mobile financial service provider in Mali, to streamline cross-border remittances across West Africa

The initiative enables Malians to receive money from abroad, directly into their Wave mobile wallets, making international money transfers faster, more convenient, and more affordable.

Remittances made easier?

The collaboration expands TerraPay’s international payment infrastructure to facilitate seamless remittances from multiple Money Transfer Operators (MTOs) in the US, Canada, and Europe into Mali. By connecting Wave’s local mobile money ecosystem with TerraPay’s global reach, the integration provides instant access to remittance funds for millions of users in Mali. It also contributes to reducing reliance on informal channels and strengthens financial inclusion across the country.

With over 80% of Mali’s population using mobile phones, and many relying on mobile money and digital wallets, mobile platforms play a central role in advancing financial access. In a region where traditional banking remains out of reach for many, services like Wave Mobile Money are critical to delivering affordable and secure financial tools.

"We are excited to join forces with Orabank Mali and TerraPay to revolutionise payment solutions and enhance financial accessibility for our customers," said Karamokho Badiane, regional head of business development at Wave Mobile Money. "This strategic collaboration allows us to harness TerraPay's global payments infrastructure alongside Orabank Mali's deep expertise in remittance services, empowering us to expand our reach and provide even greater value to our users. Our shared commitment to financial inclusion will help break down barriers and offer more accessible solutions for individuals across the country. With TerraPay's cutting-edge technology ensuring safe and reliable money transfers, we are confident that this initiative will play a crucial role in fostering economic growth and financial empowerment."

Willie Kanyeki, vice-president – Sub Sahara Africa at TerraPay, added, "Our partnership with Wave Mobile Money marks a significant milestone in our mission to power borderless money movement. By enabling instant, cost-effective, and fully compliant remittances from key markets like the US, Canada, and Europe, we are simplifying financial access and driving financial inclusion in Mali."

Together, TerraPay and Wave Mobile Money are reshaping the remittance landscape, making it easier for Malians abroad to support their families, while advancing the role of mobile money in West Africa’s economic development.

Vertiv launches advanced PowerSwitch 7000 for reliability

Vertiv strengthens power solutions portfolio with PowerSwitch 7000. (Image source: Vertiv)

Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure, has introduced the Vertiv PowerSwitch 7000, a new generation static transfer switch that enhances the company’s power solutions lineup

This system extends Vertiv’s end-to-end offerings designed to support the accelerating demands of the digital world across key sectors such as data centres, financial services, and manufacturing. Now available across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, the PowerSwitch 7000 delivers improved power reliability, helping organisations avoid costly operational disruptions.

The PowerSwitch 7000 is engineered to operate downstream from redundant uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems in reserve bus and dual-bus power configurations. It ensures uninterrupted power for mission-critical facilities, including colocation and enterprise data centres, by enabling seamless, automatic transitions between independent power sources. The solution supports both single-corded and dual-corded loads, adding an extra layer of protection, while its internally redundant design helps eliminate single points of failure.

Seamless power protection

“Power protection and reliability are increasingly critical concerns for data centre operators, especially when planning for computing growth,” said Greg Hoge, product management global director at Vertiv. “By combining reliable switching, operational flexibility, maintenance simplicity, and intelligent diagnostics, Vertiv PowerSwitch 7000 sets a high standard for operational excellence in power switching technology for even the most demanding data centre applications.”

The system includes several new serviceability features, such as a compartmentalised structure that isolates high-voltage areas from maintenance zones to enhance operator safety. The front-access setup enables maintenance without service disruption, reducing downtime and preserving continuous power flow. Additional flexible installation options, like top and bottom cable entry, make it suitable for both raised and non-raised floor settings. The design also includes modular Silicon Controlled Rectifiers (SCRs), hot-swappable fan units, and tool-free air filters to ensure efficient servicing and consistent operation.

A 9-inch colour touchscreen control panel mounted on the unit offers advanced waveform capture capabilities. This feature allows the system to act as a diagnostic tool by capturing high-frequency power data during transfer events, which supports detailed root cause analysis. Facility managers can easily monitor system performance locally, while secure remote access is available via the Intellislot RDU120 communication card, which meets UL2900-1 cybersecurity standards.

The PowerSwitch 7000 integrates seamlessly with Vertiv’s range of power management products, such as UPS systems and power distribution units, to deliver a cohesive power protection ecosystem. The solution is backed by Vertiv Global Services, which offers a global team of experts and a full suite of project, lifecycle, and digital services designed to maximise system uptime and performance.

MTN taps Mimosa, CBNLA for wireless leap

Digital_image_of_african_connectivity_showcased_on_a_globe

MTN partners with Mimosa, CBNLA to transform broadband access across 14 African markets

Mimosa Networks, a prominent global provider of wireless broadband solutions, has announced a new strategic partnership with Cambridge Broadband Networks Africa Limited (CBNLA) to deliver its acclaimed product portfolio to MTN, Africa’s largest mobile network operator

Through this collaboration, CBNLA will facilitate access to Mimosa’s high-performance fixed wireless products and services across all MTN locations.

This initiative allows MTN to deploy Mimosa’s wireless broadband solutions to its 288 million customers in 14 African countries.

MTN, with a vast customer base spanning multiple African markets, plays a pivotal role in enhancing digital connectivity across both urban centres and underserved rural areas. The integration of Mimosa’s cost-effective wireless technology, offering fiber-like speeds — supports MTN’s commitment to delivering faster, more reliable broadband access across the continent.

The agreement between Mimosa and CBNLA ensures MTN has streamlined access to a full range of Mimosa’s products, including high-capacity backhaul systems, access points, and client radios. These solutions operate over unlicensed spectrum, enabling rapid network expansion without the limitations of traditional infrastructure. As a regional service partner and systems integrator, CBNLA will assist MTN in efficiently deploying these solutions across diverse market conditions, supporting the growing demand for broadband and improving overall network performance.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with MTN and CBNLA to expand broadband access across Africa,” said Jim Nevelle, senior vice-president and general manager of Mimosa Networks. “This partnership aligns with our goal of delivering high-speed, affordable connectivity to both established and underserved regions, creating new opportunities for economic growth and digital inclusion.”

This collaboration marks a significant step in Mimosa’s broader strategy to expand affordable, high-speed broadband throughout Africa by working alongside major network operators and infrastructure partners.

IHS, NSCDC partner to secure infrastructure

IHS Nigeria teams up with NSCDC to protect telecom towers and fibre infrastructure nationwide

IHS Nigeria – a subsidiary of IHS Holding Limited, one of the world’s largest independent owners, operators, and developers of shared communications infrastructure by tower count – has announced a strategic partnership with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to enhance the protection of critical telecommunications infrastructure across Nigeria

IHS Nigeria, which manages more than 16,000 towers and has deployed over 15,000 km of fibre in the country, recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the NSCDC – the national agency responsible for safeguarding vital information infrastructure. This agreement aims to combat persistent issues like vandalism and theft at tower sites and along fibre routes, while reinforcing both organisations’ shared commitment to protecting Nigeria’s communications backbone.

Under the MoU, IHS Nigeria and the NSCDC will collaborate to develop and execute strategies that bolster the safety of IHS Nigeria’s network and other critical telecom infrastructure protected under Nigerian law. The NSCDC will provide support in surveillance, emergency response, and incident reporting, and assist with tower decommissioning and the identification, arrest, and prosecution of those found damaging telecom assets.

“At IHS we are key enablers of connectivity, and this partnership with the NSCDC is for us an important step towards enhancing the resilience, reliability and availability of telecommunications connectivity in Nigeria, commented Mohamad Darwish, CEO, IHS Nigeria. “By working closely with the NSCDC, which enforces the law that designates telecommunication towers as critical national information infrastructure, we aim to create a safer and more secure environment for our operations, including our infrastructure, and more importantly, ensure better quality of service for all users in Nigeria.”

Ahmad Abubakar, commandant general, NSCDC, stated, “The Corp has a mandate to safeguard critical national infrastructure, and IHS Nigeria’s extensive telecommunications assets and network falls squarely within this mandate. We consider IHS to be a strategic partner whose infrastructure is essential to the operations of many organizations across the country. We aim to provide a heightened level of operational excellence and support, focused on securing telecommunications infrastructure more effectively than ever before. Our doors remain open for collaboration, and we look forward to working even more closely with IHS Nigeria.”