Internet

This strategically designed route enhances Paratus’ regional infrastructure, providing exceptional reliability and low-latency connectivity across Southern Africa. (Image source: Paratus)

Paratus Group, a leading pan-African telecom company, has finalised its East-West Africa fiber route, delivering a fast and resilient connection from anywhere in southern Africa to anywhere globally

This first-of-its-kind coast-to-coast terrestrial route, developed using Paratus’ fiber infrastructure, provides a vital alternative link. Growing demand for this route has accelerated, driven by frequent and disruptive network outages.

Paratus Group CEO, Schalk Erasmus, explained, “This sea-change in imperatives has arisen due to breakages in certain subsea cable systems. Operators need a more reliable route and, with our new East-West route, by connecting to the Equiano subsea cable, we can assure customers a fast and robust alternative. Our East-West fiber route isn’t just a line on a map — it’s Africa’s digital lifeline.”

Stretching from Maputo on Africa’s east coast, through Johannesburg and across Botswana and Namibia, the advanced terrestrial network reaches the Cable Landing Station in Swakopmund, Namibia, where Paratus is the Equiano Subsea Cable landing partner. This strategically designed route enhances Paratus’ regional infrastructure, providing exceptional reliability and low-latency connectivity across Southern Africa.

Paratus Group chief commercial officer, Martin Cox, highlights the network's unique blend of regional expertise and global access: “As a steadfast partner with pan-African expertise, we offer unequalled wholesale capacity solutions for network operators. Because we understand the unique connectivity needs of the various regions, we have tailored our solutions to specific requirements, and we offer carriers and operators not only a diverse East-West route but also onward transmission to Europe.

“Recent undersea cable cuts have shown the importance of robust alternatives and why we’ve built redundancy into every kilometre, ensuring Southern Africa stays connected, no matter what. This isn’t just about backup—it’s about uninterrupted operations and seamless communications. With Paratus, you’re partnering with innovators who are weaving resilience into Africa’s digital landscape.”

look at how Sub-Saharan operators address the mobile’s gaming trend and navigate the specific dynamics of this expanding market. (Image source: Dataxis)

Telecom giants across Africa are broadening their content portfolios, with mobile gaming emerging as a promising focus in the entertainment sector

Currently, an estimated 230 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa are active gamers, predominantly from South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. Mobile phones lead the gaming scene, being far more accessible than costly consoles or PCs. As mobile devices and data plans become increasingly affordable, mobile gaming access continues to grow across the region.

Globally, mobile gaming generates about half of the gaming industry’s revenue, and in 2023, it accounted for over 55% of revenue for game publishers.

Leading regional players, including Vodacom and Telkom, are already launching products and initiatives to capture this growing market. They recognise the vast revenue and data consumption potential that mobile gaming offers.

From recent initiatives to long-term plans, Sub-Saharan telecom operators are embracing mobile gaming as they adapt to the unique dynamics of this expanding market.

Exploring the growth of Africa’s mobile gaming market

Globally, mobile gaming now accounts for half of the gaming industry’s total revenue. In 2023, game publishers saw over 55% of their earnings coming directly from the mobile segment, highlighting its dominance across the industry.

Google announces US$5.8mn investment to accelerate AI skills in Sub-Saharan Africa, empowering local talent and innovation. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Google has announced a significant commitment of US$5.8mn aimed at accelerating AI skilling initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa

This investment seeks to empower individuals and organisations to leverage artificial intelligence for economic growth and social impact.

In a recent statement, Matt Brittin, president of business & operations for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, emphasised the transformative potential of AI in driving economic development and addressing pressing challenges such as healthcare and climate change. According to Google's Digital Opportunity of Africa report, AI could contribute up to US$30bn to Sub-Saharan Africa's economy by 2030. However, to unlock this potential, the tech giant stresses the importance of equipping the workforce with essential AI skills and resources.

The announced funding will support a range of initiatives aimed at fostering a comprehensive understanding of AI across various sectors. Key focus areas include:

• Empowering workers: Providing essential AI skills training to individuals across diverse industries.
• Educating youth: Promoting awareness of AI safety and ethics among teenagers to ensure responsible use.
• Supporting non-profits: Equipping leaders of non-profit organisations with foundational AI skills to enhance their impact.
• Assisting the public sector: Enabling governments to develop and implement AI solutions for public services and policymaking.

Google highlighted examples of African innovators already utilising AI to address critical issues. One notable project is Jacaranda Health in Kenya, which uses AI to provide vital maternal and newborn health services in remote areas. Additionally, AirQo, a project led by Makerere University, combines AI and air monitoring technology to combat pollution across major African cities.

How is Google Innovating Africa?

Google's commitment to research and development is evident in its Google Research Africa centers located in Accra, Ghana, and Nairobi, Kenya. These centers focus on creating innovative AI solutions tailored to African challenges while contributing to global advancements. Projects such as Open Buildings, which employs AI to identify and map buildings across the continent, exemplify this focus.

Furthermore, Google is enhancing its presence in Africa with the establishment of a Product Development Center in Nairobi, dedicated to creating products tailored for the African market. This includes innovations in voice search and an HTML5 gaming platform that has already attracted one million daily active users.

Recognizing that collaboration is essential for realising Africa's AI potential, Google is actively partnering with governments, non-profits, educational institutions, and the private sector. In Nigeria, for example, the company is working with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to support AI talent development and empower local startups.

With this commitment, Google aims to unlock Africa's extraordinary potential in AI innovation, fostering an environment where technology can empower communities and drive meaningful change across the continent.

The alliance seeks to generate a positive impact on the lives of nearly 30,000 children in Africa and Latin America. (Image source: American Tower)

American Tower, a global leader in digital communications infrastructure, has announced an expanded partnership with ProFuturo, a digital education initiative supported by the Telefónica Foundation and "la Caixa" Foundation, to enhance digital inclusion in Nigeria

Following a successful launch in Kenya, the programme aims to continue transforming education for children in Africa by leveraging technology to bridge the educational gap.

This collaboration is designed to benefit underserved communities through various social programs that improve quality of life and promote equal access to the digital world. With the expansion into Nigeria, the initiative is expected to impact nearly 30,000 children in vulnerable communities across Nigeria, Kenya, and parts of Latin America, providing them with quality digital education through innovative projects.

Additionally, the initiative will offer training to over 1,000 teachers, equipping them to deliver this education effectively. The project promises to create a significant international network of educators committed to teaching, learning, and sharing knowledge, ultimately fostering better education worldwide.

Magdalena Brier, managing director of ProFuturo, points out that this agreement highlights the enormous potential of these types of alliances in favor of digital inclusion and how they contribute to strengthening the positive impact of educational projects on the ground, such as what ProFuturo has been developing since 2016. She said, "In this way, education with technology has enormous potential to help reduce the educational gap, thanks to its reach and capacity for inclusion, bringing high-quality content to the most difficult environments, which would be very difficult to access in any other way."

American Tower’s Digital Communities are digitally connected, technology-enabled spaces that offer digital literacy and youth education, financial literacy and adult vocational training, or health care services.

Following the principles established by the United Nations Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals, American Tower and ProFuturo share the same vision: Access to quality education in complex environments is essential to reduce poverty and inequality in the region. Through this strategic collaboration, it is expected to encourage and promote an increase in knowledge, while promoting innovative practices and strengthening educational digital transformation in the coming years.

Suzette Victor, director, Sustainability, ATC Africa, stated, “In Africa, closing the digital divide is crucial to ensuring that no one is left behind and our partnership with ProFuturo will strengthen our resolve to reach individuals in underserved communities with the transformative power of technology in education. The expansion of this partnership to Nigeria will not only address immediate educational needs but will also lay the groundwork for a future where every child has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their circumstances.”