Internet

Private cellular networks revenue to hit US$12bn

Juniper Research forecasts a 114% surge in private cellular network revenue, driven by NaaS adoption and enterprise demand. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

A new study by Juniper Research, a leading expert in telecommunications markets, forecasts that global revenue from private cellular networks will surge to US$12.2bn by 2028, up from US$5.7bn in 2025

This represents a significant 114% increase, highlighting a growing trend of businesses investing in private network solutions.

The research predicts nearly 3,000 new private network deployments in the next two years, a sharp rise compared to the 2,500 deployments recorded over the previous four years. A major driver behind this expansion is the adoption of Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) models, which offer enterprises greater cost efficiency and scalability.

NaaS allows companies to lease private network components, enabling more flexible and cost-effective deployment strategies. Despite 5G being available for private networks since 2019, its market contribution is expected to reach only US$5.6 billion by 2028. This is primarily due to the lower operating costs of 4G, which remains a viable connectivity solution for industries like logistics and manufacturing.

“As the market grows, vendors must provide flexible business models such as NaaS to attract high-spending private network users. This will also enable vendors to expand private 5G deployments, as businesses are better able to maintain the capital and operational cost of the network,” said Research author Michelle Joynson.

The study highlights the rising demand for private cellular networks and the shifting telecommunications landscape, demonstrating enterprises' increasing interest in tailored network solutions to optimise their operations.

TelCables, Megaport expand Africa’s digital reach

data_center_with_glowing_blue_servers_and_digital_cloud

TelCables and Megaport enable seamless connectivity to 930+ data centres and 300+ cloud nodes, reducing costs by up to 75%. (Image source Adobe Stock)

TelCables West Africa, a subsidiary of Angola Cables, has partnered with leading global Network as a Service (NaaS) provider, Megaport, to enable its customers to connect seamlessly to over 930 data centres and 300+ cloud nodes

This strategic collaboration allows TelCables customers to leverage the international Angola Cables backbone network while benefiting from reduced fees and network charges of up to 75%.

For TelCables customers, this partnership ensures On-Net connectivity at lower costs and shorter lead times when requesting international access and multi-cloud connectivity to major public and private cloud providers such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, Oracle, Alibaba, and Google Cloud. It also allows financial, AI, and other digital content hosted by leading data centre operators in the USA and Europe to be cached closer to key markets in Nigeria, Ghana, and across West Africa.

Africa's connectivity revolution

As part of this collaboration, Angola Cables will interconnect its key global locations—New York, Miami, and London—allowing users to take advantage of real-time circuit provisioning to over 530 data centre locations in the US and more than 260 in Europe. Customers will benefit from instant availability with 99.99% uptime and minimal latency.

Fernando Fernandes, CEO of TelCables Nigeria and West Africa, highlighted that Megaport selected Angola Cables and TelCables West Africa as its African partners due to the network efficiency and latency optimisation they provide. “This is a major leap forward for digital connectivity on the African continent, and given the configuration of our subsea cable and partner networks, we are effectively opening a ‘super corridor’ for the express transit of data and traffic from East to West.”

Fernandes further explained that this agreement offers multiple advantages for enterprises in Nigeria and West Africa, particularly for businesses seeking flexible, scalable connectivity with adjustable bandwidth at affordable rates. It provides a cost-effective solution for companies aiming to expand their operations across Africa and beyond.

“The simple and efficient interface gives users the ability to access financial institutions, from the major stock exchanges to international banking and investment houses. The options are almost limitless, whether it is an academic or research institution looking to link into a learning institution in the US or a business looking to expand into Singapore. The low-latency connections can be set up within a matter of minutes through the easy-to-use Megaport platform that makes it possible for companies to connect and scale their businesses instantly,” remarked Fernandes.

Matt Simpson, executive vice president of business development and global channel at Megaport, highlighted the strategic benefits of this collaboration, noting that it opens doors to a wide range of solutions and services that could significantly benefit emerging economies and businesses across Africa. “Our extensive SDN simplifies connectivity for enterprises looking to interconnect between data centres, cloud and AI, internet exchanges, and 300+ service providers across five continents,” said Simpson. “The reach and capabilities of our global NaaS platform help businesses by removing many of the traditional access complexities when it comes to technical resources, capital costs, performance, and network security.”

Additionally, Megaport’s global ecosystem provides customers with direct access to its latest AI-Exchange and Financial Services Exchange.

“As the most interconnected network operator in Africa*, our collaboration with Megaport effectively gives businesses across the African continent the means to expand their operations and increase their revenues by reaching customers in the global marketplace – wherever they may be located,” concluded Fernandes.

Also read: WIOCC, iColo transform ISP connectivity in Kenya

How is Paratus Namibia expanding Eduvision?

Two_children_sitting_and_operating_laptop

Eduvision has expanded significantly, facilitating interactive learning and real-time knowledge sharing. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Paratus Namibia remains dedicated to supporting Eduvision, a pioneering e-learning initiative that delivers reliable internet access to remote Namibian schools, bringing digital education to more than 12,000 students nationwide

This transformative partnership began when Barney Harmse, executive chairman of Paratus Group, connected with key stakeholders through Eduvision to explore how technology could bridge the education gap in underserved areas. From the initial digital board installations at Edugate Academy and Tsumkwe Secondary School, Eduvision has expanded significantly, facilitating interactive learning and real-time knowledge sharing. Today, over 12,000 students benefit from free access to quality online education, helping to close the digital divide in rural regions.

Expanding digital education?

With Paratus Namibia’s robust internet infrastructure, reinforced by GEO satellite technology, students across nine regions—from Katima Mulilo in the northeast to Tses in the south, Khorixas in the west, and Gam in the east—can access quality education and expert instruction. The programme has had a profound impact, providing students and educators with improved connectivity and enhanced learning experiences.

A dedicated Paratus Namibia technical support team plays an essential role in the initiative’s success, ensuring that schools receive prompt assistance when technical issues arise. In remote locations, where access to help is limited, this support is crucial in maintaining seamless digital learning environments.

Beyond connectivity, the Eduvision team also provides food, clothing, and essential supplies to schools and communities facing hardship. This outreach has strengthened relationships with students, parents, and educators, emphasising the importance of education in fostering future opportunities.

"Access to education is one of the most powerful tools for change, and through Eduvision, we are helping to provide digital learning access to remote Namibian schools where it is needed most. Seeing this initiative grow and positively impact so many students is truly rewarding. It’s not just about providing technology – it’s about creating opportunities for every Namibian child to learn, grow, and reach their potential, no matter where they live," commented Harmse.

A key milestone in the initiative includes the recent connection of Niitembu Primary School in the Oshana Region via Paratus VSAT to the Eduvision network and A. Shipena Secondary School in Soweto, Katutura, through Microwave connectivity. This enhancement further strengthens access to digital education in underserved communities. As Eduvision continues to expand, Paratus remains dedicated to advancing digital inclusion across Namibia.

“We are fully committed to this initiative. The impact is far-reaching because access to better education helps empower the next generation of Namibian leaders and pioneers,” concluded Harmse.

Also read: Intelsat expands Africa Space STEM program

Cassava and NVIDIA to launch Africa’s first AI factory

Cassava Technologies partners with NVIDIA to launch Africa’s first AI factory, providing cutting-edge AI computing for businesses and researchers. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Cassava Technologies has announced its plans to establish Africa’s first AI factory—an advanced, highly secure data centre equipped with NVIDIA AI computing technology

This initiative aims to provide African enterprises, governments, and researchers with state-of-the-art AI computing resources, enabling them to enhance AI-driven solutions, optimise processes, and maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving landscape. The facility will supply the necessary supercomputing power and software for AI training while ensuring data remains within Africa.

Cassava intends to implement NVIDIA’s accelerated computing and AI software through NVIDIA Cloud Partner (NCP) reference architectures at its South African data centres by June 2025, with future expansions across Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria. The AI Factory will integrate Cassava’s high-speed, low-latency fibre-optic network with its energy-efficient data centres to deliver AI as a Service (AIaaS). These sustainable data centres are designed to minimise energy consumption while supporting AI workloads.

Next-gen AI power

Powered by NVIDIA GPU-based supercomputers, the AI Factory will facilitate rapid AI model training, fine-tuning, and advanced inference. As an NCP, Cassava aims to introduce these cutting-edge computing platforms to Africa, positioning itself as a key player in the continent’s AI landscape.

The AI Factory will provide businesses and researchers with the computational resources needed for scaling AI applications, increasing efficiency, and driving innovation. With this secure, high-performance AI environment, African enterprises and governments can develop localised AI solutions while adhering to both global and local data regulations.

“Building digital infrastructure for the AI economy is a priority if Africa is to take full advantage of the fourth industrial revolution. Our AI Factory provides the infrastructure for this innovation to scale, empowering African businesses, startups and researchers with access to cutting-edge AI infrastructure to turn their bold ideas into real-world breakthroughs — and now, they don’t have to look beyond Africa to get it,” said Strive Masiyiwa, founder & chairman of Cassava. “Collaborating with NVIDIA gives us the advanced computing capabilities needed to drive Africa’s AI innovation while strengthening the continent’s digital independence.”

“AI is helping innovators solve our greatest challenges in agriculture, healthcare, energy, financial services and many other industries creating opportunity in Africa,” said Jaap Zuiderveld, vice-president EMEA at NVIDIA. “As an NVIDIA Cloud Partner, Cassava is providing essential infrastructure and software to help pioneering companies and organizations accelerate AI development to foster innovation across the continent.”

Cassava’s AI Factory represents the latest step in the company’s longstanding commitment to delivering cutting-edge digital solutions, reinforcing its dedication to responsible AI adoption, technological advancement, and productivity growth throughout Africa.

WIOCC, iColo transform ISP connectivity in Kenya

WIOCC partners with iColo to enhance ISP growth, improve interconnectivity, and strengthen Kenya’s digital infrastructure through colocation solutions. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

WIOCC, a leading wholesale connectivity provider in Africa, has entered a strategic colocation partnership with iColo, a carrier-neutral data centre provider and part of Digital Realty

This collaboration aims to accelerate the expansion of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Mombasa and across Kenya by enhancing digital infrastructure, fostering interconnectivity, and creating new market opportunities—ultimately strengthening Kenya’s growing digital economy.

As a key driver of Africa’s digital transformation, WIOCC has successfully implemented the Mombasa Metro Network, linking major data centres and submarine cable landing stations. This state-of-the-art infrastructure is now seamlessly integrated with iColo’s advanced carrier-neutral data centres, enabling an efficient peering ecosystem that delivers low-latency, high-performance connectivity solutions for ISPs.

Unlocking growth for Kenya’s ISP market

“The collaboration with iColo is a game-changer for Kenya’s ISP community,” said James Wekesa, chief commercial officer at WIOCC Group. “Through our high-capacity metro network and peering solutions, we are providing ISPs with the scalability, reliability and efficiency needed to serve the evolving needs of Kenyan businesses and consumers.”

This partnership is set to address a key challenge for ISPs: expanding network reach while maintaining cost efficiency. By leveraging WIOCC’s carrier-grade metro and national network, ISPs can extend their services beyond Mombasa, reaching new regional and national markets without significant capital investment.

iColo’s data centre campuses in Nairobi and Mombasa provide ISPs with access to high-capacity subsea cable systems, Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), and Cloud Service Providers (CSPs). This neutral data centre ecosystem facilitates seamless connectivity across Kenya and the broader East African region.

Strengthening Kenya’s digital infrastructure

Digital Realty, iColo’s parent company, has been recognised in Cloudscene’s 2024–2025 Data Centre Ecosystem Leaderboard as the top data centre provider in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America. This recognition underscores the strength of its infrastructure, which will play a crucial role in supporting Kenya’s increasing demand for cloud services, content distribution, and high-speed internet access.

“With increased digital adoption across Kenya, businesses need network solutions that are highly reliable and scalable. Through our continued investments and partnerships, WIOCC remains committed to driving digital transformation and economic growth in the country,” added Wekesa.

For ISPs looking to elevate their services, this collaboration presents a valuable opportunity to future-proof their operations, enhance service quality, and expand their market presence with minimal risk. Industry stakeholders, ISPs, and technology leaders are encouraged to engage with WIOCC and iColo to explore further opportunities in strengthening Kenya’s digital infrastructure.

Qualcomm supports African tech

A_map_on_the_globe_representing_global_connectivity

Paratus Group partners with Green Telecom to launch Paratus Tanzania, boosting East African connectivity for tourism, mining, and enterprise sectors. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Paratus expands to power Tanzania’s connectivity

Respresentatives_of_Kaspersky_and_SmartAfrica_holding_partnership_agreement

Kaspersky and Smart Africa collaborate to enhance cybersecurity skills, policies, and infrastructure, strengthening Africa’s digital security landscape. (Image source: Kaspersky)

Redefining cybersecurity for Africa’s digital age

NAPAfrica reaches 5Tbps, reinforcing its role as Africa’s leading IXP, improving local traffic, reducing costs, and boosting performance. (

NAPAfrica powers Africa’s fastest data surge

Satellite_dish_on_the_rooftop_of_the_house

This strategic collaboration focuses on providing broadband Internet access to remote areas, helping to bridge the digital divide in the region. (Image source: Adobe Stock)