Partnership expands rural broadband access

NEC XON, one of Africa’s leading systems integrators, has formed a strategic partnership with Mimosa Networks, a global leader in fixed wireless solutions, to boost digital inclusion by bringing high-speed broadband connectivity to underserved and rural communities across the continent

The collaboration has already achieved a landmark rollout across four territories with one of Africa’s largest mobile network operators, marking a significant advancement in closing the digital divide.

“Too often, connectivity is the privilege of the few,” remarked Liesle Botha, key account executive at NEC XON. “Our vision with Mimosa is to extend reliable, high-speed broadband to the communities, schools, hospitals, clinics, and government facilities that need it most – places that fibre simply cannot reach easily or affordably.”

Tackling rural connectivity challenges in South Africa

In many rural regions, commercial mobile network operators have limited motivation to build broadband infrastructure due to low demand for data-heavy services like streaming. However, these communities still require dependable internet for education, public services, and economic participation.

“Mimosa’s technology is specifically engineered for challenging environments, such as rural South Africa. By leveraging unlicensed spectrum, high-gain antennas, and robust design, we partnered with NEC XON to overcome spectrum congestion issues to deliver reliable broadband,” commented Mohsin Ali, director of channel sales for MEA at Mimosa Networks.

Mimosa’s solutions provide point-to-multipoint connectivity, enabling strong broadband delivery from a single hub to multiple surrounding areas. This cost-effective and rapid deployment model makes it ideal for Africa’s varied and often remote landscapes, where fibre infrastructure is either prohibitively expensive or technically unfeasible.

Key advantages of Mimosa’s technology include:

• Extended frequency support for greater reach and flexibility

• High subscriber speeds even in congested or interference-heavy environments

• New non-line-of-sight (NLoS) devices that ensure connectivity even when direct access points are blocked

These solutions are already being deployed in partnership with multiple operators across Southern Africa, with further expansions planned throughout the continent.

“Our strategic partnership with Mimosa positions NEC XON to lead the charge in expanding wireless broadband infrastructure across sub-Saharan Africa,” added Botha. “Together, we’re creating scalable, affordable, and carrier-grade solutions that are not only disrupting legacy access technologies but also empowering millions with access to education, healthcare, government services, and economic opportunities.”

Mimosa’s growing global footprint

Supported by India’s Jio Platforms, Mimosa has become the world’s fastest-growing provider of point-to-point and point-to-multipoint wireless solutions, with over three million devices deployed globally. The company’s ambitious roadmap for Africa includes further developments in non-line-of-sight connectivity, cementing its role as a key disruptor in the wireless broadband sector.

This partnership marks a major milestone in NEC XON’s mission to connect the unconnected and advance Africa’s digital transformation.

Liquid Intelligent Technologies Zambia unveils SME Portal, providing connectivity, cloud, and collaboration tools for growth

Liquid Intelligent Technologies Zambia, part of Cassava Technologies, a global technology leader of African heritage, has unveiled its new SME Portal

This first-of-its-kind bundled solution aims to equip small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Zambia with the digital tools required to compete, grow, and succeed in today’s fast evolving business environment.

The portal integrates connectivity, collaboration tools, and secure cloud storage into a single, intuitive platform. From high-speed internet packages to advanced team collaboration and data protection features, SMEs can select the services that best suit their operations, all through a simple, user-friendly interface. Prioritising accessibility, flexibility, and ease of use, the SME Portal addresses the digital challenges faced by Zambian SMEs, many of which operate without dedicated IT teams or large technology budgets.

“Our goal is to ensure that every Zambian business, no matter its size, can participate fully in the digital economy. The SME Portal puts control back into the hands of entrepreneurs. For many SMEs, time and resources are limited, and managing technology can feel overwhelming. With this platform, everything they need is available in one place, easy to set up, and tailored to the business. This is not just about providing technology; it’s about creating an accessible, adaptable digital ecosystem that grows with our SMEs,” said Mwendamo Mazaba, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Liquid Intelligent Technologies in Zambia.

The launch aligns with Liquid Zambia’s broader commitment to advancing digital transformation in the country. It follows initiatives such as the rollout of public Wi-Fi in Livingstone, expansion of the GPON network, introduction of Azure Stack for cost effective cloud solutions, and the opening of a Cyber Security Fusion Centre in 2023. Additionally, a recent partnership with Zambia’s CNC360 Consulting aims to co-create digital solutions targeting SMEs and cooperatives. These efforts reaffirm Liquid’s role as a trusted partner for Zambian businesses striving to innovate and grow in a competitive marketplace.

Vertiv and Nxtra are setting a new benchmark for data infrastructure in Africa

In a move set to reshape Africa’s data centre landscape, Vertiv, a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, has deepened its collaboration with Airtel Africa through its data centre division, Nxtra

The partnership begins in Nigeria, marking a major step toward Nxtra’s vision of building one of Africa’s largest networks of high-capacity data centres

The initiative underscores Africa’s growing need for robust digital infrastructure to support its rapidly expanding population and digital economy. Drawing from Nxtra’s extensive operational experience in India, the company aims to replicate its success in Africa by strategically establishing modern facilities in key cities.

“Nxtra has been a valued customer for nearly three decades,” said Karsten Winther, president of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at Vertiv. “This next chapter in our collaboration demonstrates the power of combining local support in Africa with international manufacturing and innovation.”

The first of these projects, located in Nigeria, will feature a 42-megawatt (MW) facility developed through a four-phase rollout and expected to be fully operational by 2028. Vertiv will provide thermal management systems and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units with batteries, ensuring energy efficiency, scalability, and reliability.

“As we invest into high-capacity, high-quality data centres for Africa, it was crucial to partner with a vendor who combines global capabilities with a strong local presence,” said Yash Issur, CEO of Nxtra by Airtel Africa. “Vertiv’s extensive multinational expertise, coupled with their established service team in Africa, provides us the reliability and support we need. We’re particularly pleased to name Vertiv as a main vendor for the first project in Nigeria and extend a collaboration ranging from India to Africa.”

Vertiv’s established Nigerian service team will oversee commissioning, handover, and five years of maintenance, providing vital local support to ensure seamless long-term operations.

A vision for sustainable expansion

According to Wojtek Piorko, managing director for Africa at Vertiv, Africa’s “data-hungry” population is a driving force behind the demand for more data centres. “Our collaboration in Africa with Nxtra marks an important milestone in strengthening Africa’s critical digital infrastructure,” he said. “Together, we are bringing proven global expertise and advanced technology into Nigeria and beyond.”

The partnership not only boosts connectivity but also represents a commitment to sustainable growth. Vertiv’s solutions will enable Nxtra to meet the region’s energy and efficiency demands while supporting environmental goals.

Looking beyond Nigeria, Nxtra and Vertiv are already planning future data centre developments in other Airtel Africa markets. The Nairobi-based facility is projected to surpass the Nigerian site in scale, reinforcing the companies’ long-term ambition to establish a continent-wide digital backbone that fuels innovation, drives local economies, and enhances Africa’s global connectivity.

With this collaboration, Vertiv and Nxtra are setting a new benchmark for data infrastructure in Africa, one that blends global expertise, local empowerment, and sustainable innovation to power the continent’s digital future.

Orange links Mediterranean to global digital

With the arrival of this new submarine cable, Orange reinforces its commitment to international connectivity and digital dynamism in the Mediterranean through the continued expansion of its infrastructure in Marseille

Thanks to its fully redundant fibre optic infrastructure, Orange will provide customers with simple, secure, and direct access to all the city’s data centres, which are now interconnected. This enhances the resilience of access and enables direct links to major European hubs such as Paris, London, and Frankfurt, as well as the rest of the world, including Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

This turnkey solution strengthens Marseille’s position as a global interconnection hub. All aspects of the cable are fully managed by Orange, including technical, regulatory, security, and environmental considerations.

An additional link for Mediterranean connectivity

As the Medusa system’s first landing in Europe, this new cable forms part of the ongoing development of submarine networks connecting both sides of the Mediterranean. It will link Marseille to Bizerte in Tunisia (Via Tunisia project announced by Orange in April 2023). This 1,050 km segment will meet the growing demand for bandwidth in the region.

A project supported by the European Union

The Marseille–Bizerte segment benefits from co-financing by the European Union through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). Three pairs of fibre belonging to Orange are supported within the European Global Gateway strategy, aimed at strengthening connections between Europe and Africa, supporting the digital transition, and reducing the digital divide.

Michael Trabbia, CEO of Orange Wholesale, stated, "We are proud to bring our leadership and expertise to the Medusa cable, hosted within our secure infrastructure in Marseille, with laying operations carried out by our cable ships, Teliri and Sophie Germain. Our infrastructure offers a key link in Mediterranean basin connectivity, ensuring digital resilience and supporting socio-economic development. With this landing, Orange enhances Europe's digital sovereignty and positions Marseille as a global digital hub, now hosting the arrival of 17 submarine cables connected worldwide."

The Medusa cable provider is Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN). Elettra Tlc, a subsidiary of Orange and the project coordinator, managed the operation. Orange Marine’s cable ship Sophie Germain was responsible for the cable landing operations in Marseille.

An environmentally respectful approach

To protect local ecosystems, the landing operation was conducted via horizontal directional drilling, respecting regional environmental objectives, including bypassing Posidonia meadows and the Calanques park.

The cable laying was executed by the Sophie Germain, a state-of-the-art, low environmental impact cable ship.

Orange, a key player in global connectivity

As a major player in international connectivity and submarine cables, Orange continues to invest heavily in future digital infrastructure. The Group is involved in over 40 submarine cables, representing nearly 450,000 km of networks worldwide.

Its subsidiaries Elettra Tlc and Orange Marine, specialising in cable ships, manage engineering, installation, and maintenance of these cables, ensuring Orange’s complete control over the value chain, from design to operation.