The expansion is expected to improve digital access for hundreds of millions of people across up to 22 African nations

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has taken a step to strengthen the security of international data communications by funding a feasibility study to extend the Medusa Submarine Cable System to Africa’s Atlantic coastline

The expansion is expected to improve digital access for hundreds of millions of people across up to 22 African nations.

USTDA and AFR-IX Telecom (AFR-IX), an infrastructure and telecommunications company specialising in Africa’s digital infrastructure, formalised their collaboration on the project. The initiative aims to boost data security and privacy, counter threats posed by malign global actors seeking to compromise critical infrastructure, and deepen long-term digital partnerships between Africa and the United States.

Why Medusa matters?

“Subsea cables are the foundation for Africa’s digital future. Secure, reliable digital infrastructure provides the essential bandwidth and foundation to enable widespread use of a new generation of technologies like AI, quantum computing, and 6G solutions. These are all areas where U.S. companies provide trusted solutions and where USTDA is focusing its attention,” said Thomas Hardy, USTDA’s acting director. “USTDA’s involvement in this project will help secure it against untrusted infrastructure providers that could manipulate markets, intercept data, and conduct surveillance to the detriment of the United States and our African partners.”

The feasibility study funded by USTDA will evaluate both the technical and commercial potential of extending the Medusa subsea fiberoptic cable from the Mediterranean Sea to Africa’s Atlantic coast. It will incorporate U.S. expertise to recommend American standards and alternatives to untrusted suppliers, advancing shared goals for secure, standards-based connectivity while opening the door for U.S. technology solutions to be deployed.

The project also promises to expand high-speed access across the region, enabling key services such as cloud computing, secure government communications, and digital financial transactions.

Norman Albi, CEO of AFR-IX Telecom and the Medusa Africa Submarine Cable System, highlighted the project’s importance: “The Medusa Africa Submarine Cable System will be transformational for digital connectivity along Africa’s Atlantic coast, creating new opportunities for innovation, commerce, and social inclusion in the region. USTDA’s support is truly catalytic — turning an ambitious vision into a bankable project and accelerating the partnerships needed to bring it to life. At Medusa, we are proud to receive USTDA’s support, which underscores the importance of adding the United States as a partner to Medusa Africa."

Accenture will deploy its AI Refinery platform and related technologies to design and deliver sovereign AI solutions powered by Cassava’s GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS)

Cassava Technologies (Cassava), a global technology leader of African heritage, has entered into a strategic collaboration with Accenture to scale its sovereign AI capabilities across Africa

Accenture will deploy its AI Refinery platform and related technologies to design and deliver sovereign AI solutions powered by Cassava’s GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS). These are hosted within Cassava’s secure data centres and enhanced with NVIDIA AI infrastructure. The solutions will enable existing and future Cassava customers to run AI workloads and manage data within their national borders, meeting local requirements and regulations.

The initiative will start in South Africa, with expansion planned in Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria. This phased rollout aligns with Cassava’s ongoing expansion of its data centre facilities across Africa. Cassava will also utilise its continent-wide high-speed, ultra-low-latency fibre broadband network, interlinking its energy-efficient data centres to support AI computing demands.

“AI is opening up exciting new opportunities for sparking innovation, advancing competitiveness and driving growth across Africa,” said Mauro Macchi, CEO of Accenture for Europe, Middle East and Africa. “With our deep, global experience in sovereign cloud and AI, Accenture will help Cassava deliver secure, scalable sovereign AI solutions and reimagine its operations. Together, we will enable organizations across the African continent to adopt AI with confidence and unlock new ways to create value.”

“With our GPUaaS, Cassava will drive the continent’s AI revolution by allowing businesses to access compute power based on their individual needs. This is our commitment to ensuring Africa has the infrastructure and access it needs to compete in the AI era – AI isn’t just a technology story; it’s a nation-building story with inclusion at its centre,” said Ahmed El Beheiry, CEO of Cassava AI. “Collaborating with Accenture allows us to leverage their global expertise in building a sovereign AI cloud capability designed for the African market. This partnership will strengthen data governance, drive practical AI adoption across key industries, and ensure that we provide African solutions for African challenges.”

As part of this collaboration, both companies will integrate regional context, languages, and cultural nuances into the AI solutions, ensuring they are locally relevant and impactful. Target sectors include financial services, mining, telecommunications, agriculture, and healthcare. This localised strategy will reinforce compliance and trust while ensuring that technology reflects market realities, enabling businesses to innovate sustainably.

Cassava will invest in infrastructure and platform development to prepare for commercialisation, focusing on scalability, security, and compliance. This reinforces the company’s wider commitment to responsible AI adoption, innovation, and productivity growth in Africa.

Google drives AI adoption, digital skills, and connectivity to empower young Africans and reshape innovation landscapes

Africa, home to the world’s largest youth population expected to surpass 830 million by 2050, is at a pivotal moment for technological advancement. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) presents a transformative opportunity to empower young Africans, enhance innovation, and bridge the digital divide

Google has long recognised that access to AI requires more than just technology. It also demands connectivity, products, and training. By making AI accessible, Google aims to expand opportunities for young people across the continent, ensuring the digital revolution benefits everyone and that AI does not widen existing inequalities.

Connectivity as the foundation for AI

Google’s commitment to African connectivity began in 2006 with the Seacom cable. In 2021, the company pledged US$1bn over five years to strengthen digital infrastructure, an investment it has already exceeded. This funding has supported the development of resilient and secure networks essential for Africans to harness AI.

Recently, Google announced four strategic subsea cable hubs spanning North, South, East, and West Africa. These hubs will create digital corridors across the continent and beyond, enhancing international connectivity, boosting resilience, and driving economic growth. This initiative builds on existing projects such as the Google Cloud region in Johannesburg, the Equiano cable along Africa’s western coast, and Umoja, the first fiber optic route linking Africa directly to Australia. Collectively, these efforts have enabled over 100 million Africans to access the internet for the first time.

AI empowering youth and innovation

To accelerate learning and innovation, Google is providing college students aged 18 and above in Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe with a free one-year subscription to Google Gemini AI Pro. The suite includes tools like Deep Research for in-depth reports, Guided Learning as an AI companion, and coding and content creation resources, equipping students to tackle local challenges and seize new opportunities.

Google has trained 7 million Africans in AI skills and aims to reach an additional 3 million students, teachers, and young people by 2030. Over the past four years, the company has invested more than US$17 million in African universities and research institutions, with another US$9mn planned. Support for local languages has grown as well, with over 30 African languages added to Google Translate and more than 40 African voice datasets under development.

Driving African-led solutions

Google’s AI research teams in Kenya and Ghana are addressing real-world challenges such as flood forecasting, agricultural resilience, and infrastructure mapping. By 2030, Google aims to reach 500 million Africans with AI-powered solutions that empower communities, businesses, and governments.

Paratus expands into Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania, boosting East Africa’s digital growth with secure connectivity. (Image source: Paratus)

Paratus Group, the pan-African telecommunications and network services provider, has finalised its expansion into East Africa, strengthening its mission to deliver secure and scalable digital infrastructure across sub-Equatorial Africa

Since November 2024, Paratus Kenya has operated as a licensed ISP and authorised Starlink reseller. This was followed by launches in Rwanda and Uganda, where Rwanda also offers Starlink services. Tanzania joined in 2025, extending ISP coverage to enterprise and wholesale customers. Through these four markets, Paratus is supporting industries such as education, retail, health, transport, tourism, and logistics, ensuring both communities and businesses benefit from reliable connectivity.

At the heart of this expansion lies the Paratus East–West fibre route. This terrestrial backbone stretches from Maputo to Swakopmund, where it connects with the Equiano subsea cable, providing high-capacity, low-latency redundancy between Africa and Europe.

East Africa, home to over 200 million people and generating more than US$200bn in GDP, is increasingly seen as one of the continent’s fastest-growing markets. Euromonitor projects its share of Africa’s GDP will climb from 18% to 29% by 2040. Growth will be driven by foreign investment, policy reforms, and demand across agriculture, energy, mining, ICT, manufacturing, and healthcare—further accelerated by a large youth population and rapid digital adoption.

“We now hold operational licenses in key East African markets,” commented Martin Cox, chief commercial officer at Paratus Group. “Our network and infrastructure enable enterprise and wholesale customers to access reliable, cross-border connectivity within the region and beyond, supporting their digital operations and growth.”

Through solutions such as dedicated internet, cloud, managed services, and cybersecurity, Paratus provides the digital foundation for East Africa’s emerging economy.

“You can’t trade if you can’t connect,” Cox continued. “We’re providing the infrastructure and delivering 24/7 connectivity across borders to enable businesses to thrive in the digital age. Our role in building East Africa’s digital highways is as vital today as the traditional trade routes were centuries ago. Trade is in the DNA of the region, and the key to unlocking it now lies in the region’s digital transformation and capabilities.”

He adds, “We’re not just expanding the Paratus footprint we are also enabling East Africa to reclaim its role as a key global trade gateway by providing secure, world-class digital infrastructure that connects businesses, markets and people. The same geographic advantages that made cities like Mombasa important centuries ago are just as relevant today except now they need to be enhanced by world-class digital infrastructure.”

By advancing this regional footprint, Paratus Group consolidates its reputation as Africa’s Quality Network, providing the backbone for a digital-first, interconnected continent.