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Ooredoo secures a QAR2bn (US$550mn) financing deal with QNB, Doha Bank, and Masraf Al Rayan to expand its data centre and AI business. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Ooredoo Group, a global communications company operating across the MENA region and Southeast Asia, has secured a QAR2bn (approx. US$550mn) financing deal to accelerate its data centre and AI business growth

The deal was signed with QNB, Doha Bank, and Masraf Al Rayan, marking the largest transaction ever in Qatar’s tech sector.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, group CEO of Ooredoo, stated, “The MENA region is one of the fastest growing markets for data centres worldwide, and there is significant untapped potential in AI, Cloud services and accelerated computing. This financing deal marks a major milestone in our strategic vision for expanding our data centre and AI business, and we are excited to meet the region’s increasing demand while upholding our commitment to sustainable, energy-efficient infrastructure.”

The funds will be used to separate Ooredoo’s data centre assets from its telecom operations, with a substantial portion allocated to expanding capacity and upgrading infrastructure to support AI, cloud services, and hyperconnectivity.

Fahad Al Khalifa, group CEO of Masraf Al Rayan, commented, "We are excited to be part of this major financing deal, which will contribute to driving technological progress in Qatar and the region. By partnering with Ooredoo, we are investing in the future of digital infrastructure and supporting sustainable growth through innovation and economic diversification. We are proud to be at the forefront of this significant initiative, which will undoubtedly cement Qatar’s position as a leader in the digital economy."

Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Fahad bin Faisal Al Thani, group CEO of Doha Bank, added, “We are dedicated to support Ooredoo in its ambitious expansion of digital infrastructure through this financing deal. The growth of Ooredoo’s data centres will have a transformative impact on the tech sector, enhancing regional competitiveness and positioning the country as a leader in the digital economy. We are proud to play a role in enabling this important step towards achieving comprehensive development in Qatar and the region.”

Vodacom Business partners with local governments to transform South African cities through innovative digital solutions. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Vodacom Business is dedicated to digitising essential sectors within enterprises and is collaborating with local governments to implement technology solutions aimed at creating smarter cities in South Africa

In announcing this partnership, which is part of a five-year Transversal Contract with the National Treasury, Vodacom Business highlighted the critical role that digital solutions can play in helping municipalities operate more efficiently and foster an inclusive future.

“We have a proven track record in partnering with the public sector to deliver transformative digital solutions. We aim to use our experience and expertise in understanding government needs to achieve their smart city goals. This includes digitalising utilities management, healthcare, education, and security, which streamline operations, enhance efficiencies, and improve the lives of citizens,” stated Videsha Proothveerajh, director of Vodacom Business.

Digital solutions can empower municipalities to better manage the consumption and delivery of essential services, including water and electricity. Vodacom Business has introduced a smart utilities management system that utilises connected smart meters to provide real-time consumption data. This innovation not only enhances accurate billing and revenue collection for residents but also extends to fleet management, resulting in cost savings for municipalities while improving the efficiency, value, and lifespan of their assets. Additionally, Vodacom Business has developed the Citizen Engagement app, which fosters two-way communication between citizens and municipalities, enabling residents to log service requests and track their status.

Technology has also been harnessed to enhance access to healthcare. Solutions like the secure, cloud-based Stock Visibility Solution (SVS) by Vodacom Business aid healthcare facilities in monitoring stock levels and managing medication dispensing more efficiently. Furthermore, the AitaHealth platform empowers Community Health Workers (CHWs) to provide preventative care services at home, improving patient care. Other initiatives supporting public healthcare include the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, which tracks ambulance requests from the moment a call is received until the patient is delivered to their destination.

In education, Vodacom Business has created digital solutions that assist education departments and schools with streamlined e-admissions and improve communication between schools, district management, and provincial offices for better visibility. Vodacom’s e-learning platform utilises mobile technology to enhance the educational experience inside and outside the classroom, aligning with the government’s objective to improve educational outcomes in South Africa.

To ensure citizen safety, Vodacom Business has developed a range of IoT security solutions, including real-time firearm tracking and geo-fencing to bolster public sector security services. Body-worn cameras enable real-time video transmission to central locations, facilitating live monitoring during critical incidents and providing evidential support for incident management.

As Vodacom marks its 30th anniversary, Vodacom Business remains steadfast in its commitment to transforming enterprises of all sizes to positively impact lives and ensure that no one is excluded from the digital future. By promoting the development of smart cities, Vodacom is turning public services into public successes and assisting the government in leveraging technology to better serve citizens, fostering an inclusive digital society in South Africa.

Raxio Group launches Tier III data center in Abidjan, fueling Côte d'Ivoire's digital transformation and connectivity. (Image source: Raxio Group)

Raxio Group has officially opened its state-of-the-art data centre in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, named Raxio Côte d'Ivoire (CIV1)

This marks the company’s fifth data centre in its portfolio and the third launched this year, all of which have received Tier III accreditation from the Uptime Institute. With this facility, Raxio is positioning itself as a key player in the country’s digital expansion.

Powering digital growth 

CIV1 is Ivory Coast’s first Tier III certified, carrier-neutral, and cloud-neutral data centre. Located in the fastest-growing economy of francophone West Africa, it aims to meet the growing demand for data and local content. The center, equipped with top-tier technology, can house up to 800 racks and deliver 3MW of IT power to customer equipment.

This launch represents Raxio’s entry into West Africa, with CIV1 strategically located to serve the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), which includes countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo. The region's regulations support the banking industry and financial institutions in securely storing and transferring data within the territory.

Robert Mullins, CEO of Raxio Group, emphasised, “The inauguration of our Abidjan data centre establishes us firmly in West Africa, a key growth sector for our continued expansion. Abidjan is the ideal location for organisations and businesses from across the economic region to colocate their mission-critical infrastructure in a highly reliable and secure facility. We are proud to contribute a fundamental cornerstone to facilitate Côte d’Ivoire’s continued digital growth and cement its hub status in the region.”

Located about 30 km from central Abidjan in the Village of Innovation and Technology (VITIB), CIV1 benefits from diverse power and fiber paths, alongside redundant technology that ensures its Tier III standards. The facility operates 24/7 and is strategically positioned on major fiber routes, providing premium colocation services and excellent domestic and international connectivity. Six fiber providers currently support the centre, which will also host the country’s Internet Exchange Point (CIVIX), fostering affordable interconnection of both local and global traffic in a neutral setting.

From its location, Raxio CIV1 is set to serve a wide range of sectors within Abidjan and the broader WAEMU region. This comes at a time of rapid digital transformation, data consumption, and increasing connectivity demands.

Siemon expands optical patching solutions for NVIDIA AI infrastructure, enhancing GPU cluster performance with structured cabling expertise. (Image source: Siemon)

Siemon, a global leader in network infrastructure solutions, has announced the availability of its comprehensive range of optical patching solutions designed specifically for NVIDIA AI infrastructure within generative AI networks

Large and intricate GPU clusters can greatly benefit from utilising structured cabling patch panels instead of traditional point-to-point cabling. Siemon positions itself as a trusted advisor, offering expert guidance and best practice recommendations for the design and deployment of NVIDIA AI infrastructure.

In a significant move, Siemon has joined the NVIDIA Partner Network (NPN) as a Solution Advisor Consultant. NPN Solution Advisor Consultants deliver consultation services and expert insights to customers seeking to implement NVIDIA-based technologies. Siemon's involvement in the network enables it to leverage its expertise in tackling the unique infrastructure and cabling challenges posed by accelerated computing.

NVIDIA's optical reach specifications are designed with the assumption that two optical patch panels are employed in each link, utilising a total of four optical connectors. Siemon's optical patching solutions align with NVIDIA's requirements, offering customers enhanced flexibility and ease of management.

“Siemon is very familiar with NVIDIA reference architectures and has worked with many customers to design and deploy NVIDIA clusters. Siemon's unique solutions meet low latency requirements, simplify deployment, and provide post-day 1 installation flexibility. Siemon offers a full range of AI-ready fibre cabling, DAC, and AOC solutions that support 400G, 800G, and 1.6T applications,” said Gary Bernstein, senior director of Global Data Center Sales at Siemon.