Kaspersky unveils eSIM Store offering worldwide data access for seamless travel connectivity. (Image source: Kaspersky)

Kaspersky has introduced its new eSIM store, a digital solution designed to simplify internet access for travellers by offering convenient, cost-effective global data plans

With coverage in over 150 countries and more than 2,000 flexible plans, the service is geared toward both leisure and business users seeking reliable internet without physical SIM cards.

According to GSMA, the production of devices compatible with eSIM has grown tenfold in just five years. By 2028, around half of all mobile connections worldwide are projected to run on eSIM technology. The growing appeal is largely due to the convenience it offers — eliminating the need for SIM swaps while ensuring continuous access on the move.

To address this market shift, Kaspersky’s eSIM Store connects users to global telecom providers via a user-friendly interface that allows quick plan selection, purchase, top-ups, and management of data usage.

A smarter way to stay connected

With Kaspersky’s eSIM Store, users can avoid roaming fees and enjoy uninterrupted connectivity throughout their travels. The platform helps users bypass physical SIM hassles and unreliable public Wi-Fi networks, while providing transparency, competitive pricing, and ease of setup.

An eSIM not only reduces costs but also removes the need to share personal information with local vendors while abroad. Travellers can connect instantly upon arrival — either through immediate activation or by scheduling their data plan in advance.

Flexible and easy to use

The platform allows users to filter plans based on destination (individual countries or grouped regions) and choose between expiring or non-expiring data options — depending on the length and nature of their trip. All plans come with real-time data tracking and alerts, helping travellers avoid running out of data unexpectedly. Users can also manage multiple international destinations with a single eSIM installation that lasts a lifetime.

Kaspersky’s eSIM Store is powered by BNESIM Limited, an award-winning global eSIM service provider operating since 2017.

“At Kaspersky we are constantly keeping up with latest trends shaping our digital habits, and eSIM is definitely one of them. eSIM technology greatly simplifies travelling abroad, allowing people to stay connected and not worry about issues like roaming charges. We know from our own experience how important it is to stay in touch with your family or colleagues when you are on a trip, so we designed Kaspersky eSIM Store for all types of travellers to ensure instant access to eSIM data plans wherever they go, as well as to provide a safe and positive digital experience,” – said Mikhail Gerber, Executive Vice President, Consumer Business, Kaspersky.

SMART Zambia brings high-speed internet to underserved Muchinga communities. (Image source: SMART Zambia)

In a major step toward digital inclusion, the SMART Zambia Muchinga team, in partnership with the Shiwangandu Town Council, has successfully rolled out Starlink high-speed internet to nine critical locations across the district

The effort aims to close the connectivity gap for underserved and previously unconnected communities.

Among the newly connected sites are six healthcare facilities, a secondary school, the civic center, and the district health office—bringing essential digital access to institutions vital for community well-being and development.

This deployment represents a key milestone in improving digital infrastructure in Muchinga Province, with far-reaching impacts on healthcare delivery, educational advancement, and local economic empowerment.

Provincial principal head of ICT, Francis Sangale, noted that the team collaborated closely with Mr. Itayi Mudekwa, Systems Analyst at Shiwangandu Town Council, to ensure successful installation at all sites.

Stefano Resi of Nokia highlights South Africa’s strengths, challenges and future role in Africa’s expanding data centre landscape

Stefano Resi, head of Data Centre sales for Middle East and Africa at Nokia, sharing insights into South Africa’s leadership role in Africa’s evolving data centre ecosystem, its unique advantages, current challenges and the road ahead for digital infrastructure across the continent

South Africa has long been a digital powerhouse on the continent, but as infrastructure demand accelerates, its role is expanding in new and significant ways.

With more than 30 million sq km, 54 countries and over 1.5 billion people, Africa represents a complex digital ecosystem—not a singular market. It is home to rising data centre activity in Nigeria, Kenya, Djibouti, Morocco and Egypt, but South Africa continues to stand apart.

According to Stefano Resi, “South Africa stands out because it is the only country connecting the two oceans and it serves as the gateway to the entire sub-Saharan region.”

But it is not just about geography. “Location alone does not define leadership,” Resi explained. “What sets the country apart is its mature legal framework, education system, and accessible business environment. These factors all contribute to an ecosystem primed for digital innovation.”

South Africa’s position as a key landing point for major undersea cables such as 2Africa and Equiano enhances its connectivity, while cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town are becoming magnets for hyperscale and colocation developments.

“These factors combine to make South Africa a fertile environment for large-scale data centre investment,” added Resi. “Already, Johannesburg and Cape Town are hosting an expanding constellation of high-capacity facilities.”

Data centre design has also evolved. While earlier models focused on simple storage and compute, modern facilities are driven by hyperscalers like AWS, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure. Traffic now flows heavily within the data centre (east-west), requiring intelligent switching, dynamic architecture and automation.

This transformation aligns with the rise of latency-sensitive services such as augmented reality, industrial IoT and autonomous systems—services that demand a new kind of infrastructure.

“South Africa, with its dispersed urban centres and vast geography, is uniquely positioned to build a tiered architecture of core and edge data centres,” Resi explained. “These smaller edge facilities will be critical to delivering low-latency services to end users across the country.”

Yet, power instability remains a persistent challenge. Data centres consume vast amounts of electricity, and South Africa’s energy volatility poses a threat.

“Power is the Achilles heel of the digital (r)evolution in South Africa,” noted Resi. “However, this challenge can become an opportunity by accelerating the adoption of green energy sources. There needs to be a national-level commitment to energy stability if we are to meet future AI-driven demand.”

The industry must also prepare for the impact of AI. Unlike traditional workloads, AI applications require new cooling, hardware and networking standards.

“AI will reshape how we design data centres,” concluded Resi. “Inference and learning workloads place different demands on hardware, cooling, layout and obviously new network design and specifications.”

He believes South Africa will remain a central pillar in Africa’s digital transformation. “In a first phase by providing directly the data centre infrastructure for less digitalized countries, however in a second phase, when these countries will be accelerating their digital path, South Africa will continue to be the Hub and the guiding reference for the continent’s digital Agenda.”

CrossBoundary Energy is powering the project's first sites with solar PV, battery, and generator solutions, providing 99.9% uptime while reducing fossil fuel emissions. (Image source: CrossBoundary Energy)

Zoodlabs, a telecommunications company based in Sierra Leone, has announced that it is using renewable energy to support the deployment of one of the country’s first 5G data networks

The announcement was made during the Digital Government Summit held in Freetown.

As part of this initiative, CrossBoundary Energy is providing clean energy infrastructure for the initial rollout, which includes a mix of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, battery storage, and generator backup systems. These solutions are designed to deliver 99.9% uptime while simultaneously cutting down on emissions from fossil fuels. CrossBoundary Energy is also financing five of the towers to accelerate deployment.

Oliver Benham, director of operations for telecom solutions at CrossBoundary Energy, explained, “Our solution is designed to maximize uptime whilst increasing renewable energy penetration and minimising diesel generator usage. The effect is that telecom operators like Zoodlabs have a reliable, affordable, and cleaner way of powering their network that does not rely on utility energy supply or fossil fuels.”

The introduction of 5G technology is set to dramatically improve data speeds, reduce latency, and enhance device connectivity across Sierra Leone. With broadband penetration currently at just 20.7%, this wireless rollout will bypass the need for traditional cable infrastructure, helping bridge the digital divide for individuals and enterprises in the capital city.

David Kapkima, CEO at Zoodlabs, noted, “5G is not just about faster phones—it’s a foundational technology for smart cities, autonomous vehicles, remote healthcare, and businesses that rely on IoT. CrossBoundary Energy’s specialised knowledge in solar energy solutions has enabled Zoodlabs to power this infrastructure sustainably.”

The first 5G towers have already been installed in Freetown, and Zoodlabs plans to extend the network’s reach across the rest of Sierra Leone in future phases.