High-capacity submarine cable connecting Oman and Kenya. (Image source: Safaricom)

Meta has entered into an agreement with Safaricom to bring its second submarine cable to Kenya, marking a major advancement in regional connectivity 

Through its subsidiary, Edge Network Services Limited, Meta has appointed Safaricom as the landing partner for a new high-capacity submarine cable connecting Oman and Kenya. The collaboration aims to enhance internet speeds, improve network resilience, and support the growing demand for digital services across the region.

“This deal is a significant strategic milestone for us at Safaricom as we mark 25 years and signals our readiness to transition into a fully-fledged tech company in line with our vision 2030 strategy. It positions us to meet the surging demand for high-capacity, low-latency connectivity which is critical for powering economic growth, cloud adoption, and digital innovation,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom.

The partnership strengthens Safaricom’s long-term commitment to providing faster, more resilient, and future-proof connectivity in alignment with its ambition to become Africa’s leading purpose-led technology company by 2030. It further reinforces the company’s role in driving digital transformation, empowering enterprises, communities, and consumers with the high-speed connectivity required to compete in a digital economy.

The Under-Sea Cable System will be fully financed by Edge, with locally licensed operators in both Kenya and Oman contracted to manage the cable segment within their respective territorial waters, as well as the associated in-country infrastructure.

The deal signals Safaricom’s readiness to offer more than voice, data and mobile money services in line with its vision 2030 to be Africa’s leading purpose-led technology company.

Strategic partnership boosts cooling solutions

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Mitsubishi Electric Hydronics & IT Cooling Systems S.p.A. (MEHITS), headquartered in Bassano, Italy, has acquired a stake in Intramech Pty Ltd., a South African company specialising in sales and services for applied HVAC and IT cooling systems

By strengthening its partnership with Intramech, known for its strong sales, service, and engineering expertise in southern Africa, Mitsubishi Electric aims to expand both companies’ technical capabilities while enhancing its one-stop service offerings for applied HVAC and IT cooling systems.

Through the integration of Mitsubishi Electric’s product portfolio with Intramech’s local know-how, the two companies will complement each other in maintenance, equipment engineering, and system integration. Together, they will provide end-to-end services, including design-related technical support, sales, installation, operation, and maintenance, across southern Africa.

The collaboration comes at a time when data centre construction is surging globally, including across Africa, driving increased demand for IT cooling. Data centre operators are also seeking more comprehensive services covering installation, operation, and maintenance of cooling equipment.

According to Mitsubishi Electric, “The new partnerships will allow Mitsubishi Electric to strengthen its presence in southern Africa to deliver more comprehensive customer support and better meet the demand for applied HVAC and IT cooling system solutions, which is forecast to grow significantly in the regional market.”

SABEN supports around 450,000 students across 267 campuses and 46 colleges, delivering digital solutions designed to address the unique needs of the education sector

Teraco, a Digital Realty company and leading provider of interconnection platforms and vendor-neutral colocation data centres, has announced a five-year extension of its support grant to the South African Broadband Education Networks (SABEN) through the Teraco Connect Foundation

Initially signed in 2020, the grant has been extended until 2030, bringing its total value to R17.5 million (approx. US$958,000). This renewed funding supports SABEN’s national initiative to eliminate bandwidth poverty in South Africa’s public schools and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.

SABEN, a non-profit organisation and a key component of South Africa’s National Research and Education Network (NREN), is the sole provider of broadband and connectivity services to public TVET colleges across the country. Currently, SABEN supports around 450,000 students across 267 campuses and 46 colleges, delivering digital solutions designed to address the unique needs of the education sector.

The Teraco Connect Foundation grant enables these institutions to access digital content more efficiently while laying the groundwork for long-term digital strategies.

Garth Scholtz, SABEN general manager, commented, “Thanks to Teraco’s generous support, we are equipped to continue improving the digital transformation potential of each institution, which SABEN can support adequately.

“Our ultimate beneficiaries are the students. We aim to position ourselves as a conduit to the various classroom technologies that can be built on our scalable platform of digital solutions through the NREN services offering or serving as a thought leader on related technologies. We see ourselves playing a large role in building future capacity in the sector, which would not only help the colleges to help themselves better, but hopefully retain the skills in the public sector where they are so desperately needed,” continued Scholtz.

Through the grant extension, SABEN will maintain a physical presence in Teraco’s Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban data centres. This presence connects colleges directly to Platform Teraco, providing access to a rich ecosystem of cloud and content service providers and enabling improved streaming, cloud-based learning, and remote education capabilities.

Jan Hnizdo, Teraco CEO, noted that the initiative reflects the company’s long-term vision for the education sector.

“The Teraco Connect Foundation sees the grant as an investment in the future of this country at a time when all sectors are facing significant challenges. As a leading data centre infrastructure provider, we are proud to invest in education, one of the most important cornerstones to secure the future growth and development of all South Africans.”

Scholtz emphasises the importance of collaboration between education and industry.

“Collaboration with industry is key, and the grant extension from Teraco will assist us in meeting the evolving digital requirements of all the institutions. South Africa’s skills shortage cannot be addressed unless our education system produces a labour force with the right skills to meet the industry’s demand.

“Poverty and inequality can never be eliminated unless the next generation of previously disadvantaged citizens is economically empowered. The role of all these educational institutions will play a significant role and, as SABEN, we need to ensure that this journey is fully enabled.”

Boosting data centre uptime reliability. (Image source: Brady Corporation)

In data centres, uptime is crucial. Uninterrupted operation is essential for all critical services. A key factor in maintaining this, often underestimated, is a standardised and reliable identification system for all infrastructure components

Discover how a leading automotive manufacturer revolutionised their operations and minimised risks by implementing a robust identification system. Learn how Brady's innovative labeling solutions delivered clearer infrastructure, fewer errors, and rock-solid reliability.

The Challenge: reducing downtime risks

Datacentre professionals constantly aim for high service levels. A significant risk to continuous operation is human error, particularly disconnecting the wrong cable. The complexity of modern datacentres, with dense cabling, makes this risk higher. To minimise the risks of incorrect cable disconnection, clear, reliable, and consistently applied labels for racks, servers, and cables are vital.

The solution: durable labels and efficient processes

One of important automotive manufacturer recently addressed this by implementing a comprehensive identification approach. They used industrial-grade labels designed for datacentre demands. These labels, like Brady's B-425, B-427, and B-461, use specially developed materials and adhesives, ensuring they stay attached even to curved surfaces like UTP cables.

Beyond the labels, the solution included advanced design and printing capabilities. Brady Workstation label design apps let technicians create and customise labels easily from various devices. For on-site printing, the handheld M610 Label Printer is practical. For larger volumes, the BradyPrinter i7100 Industrial Label Printer provides efficient batch printing.

Crucially, the implementation included on-site consulting to help standardize labels and support the datacentre's overall identification strategy. This ensured the new labeling system integrated smoothly with existing operations.

Results: preventing errors and enhancing uptime

Brady labels and identification solutions have delivered clear benefits. By ensuring labels remain securely attached, the risk of cable patching mistakes has significantly decreased. This directly contributes to improved datacentre uptime and service levels. Additionally, the streamlined process for designing, printing, and applying labels has made standardisation practical and easy to implement.

In an industry where uptime is crucial, a reliable identification system is not just good practice; it's one of the fundamental elements of operational resilience.

Discover how Brady can optimise your data centre's uptime. Find out more about dedicated identification and labelling solutions for datacenters >>

Ready to enhance your datacentre's reliability? Speak with a Brady expert to discuss your data centre's specific needs.