Internet

Africa Data Centres boosts Gauteng connectivity with Oni-Tel

Oni-Tel strengthens Africa Data Centres fibre network. (Image source: African Data Centres)

Africa Data Centres, part of Cassava Technologies, has entered into a partnership with Oni-Tel Fibre Networks to enhance connectivity across its Gauteng-based facilities

The agreement will see Oni-Tel provide high-speed, low-latency connectivity to Africa Data Centres’ campuses in Midrand and Samrand via its Infinity fibre interconnection platform.

Designed specifically for data centre interconnection, the solution is built on a resilient network with direct links to key data centre hubs across Gauteng. This enables customers to access high-capacity bandwidth, fast data transfer speeds, and secure, carrier-grade performance, meeting the uptime and reliability demands of modern digital operations.

“As enterprises accelerate cloud adoption, AI deployment, and data-intensive workloads, they need dependable, scalable connectivity within trusted local data centres. By partnering with Oni-Tel, we’re giving our customers access to enhanced fibre infrastructure that supports their growth and innovation, while maintaining secure, enterprise-grade environments for businesses navigating South Africa’s digital economy,” said Adil El Youssefi, CEO of Africa Data Centres.

As the operator of Africa’s largest interconnected and vendor- as well as cloud-neutral data centre platform, Africa Data Centres will further strengthen its service offering through this collaboration. The partnership enhances network performance and broadens connectivity choices within its facilities, allowing customers to benefit from improved interconnection flexibility, high-availability infrastructure, seamless bandwidth delivery, and scalable solutions aligned with evolving business needs.

“Our partnership with Africa Data Centres enables us to deliver our premium fibre interconnection solution into some of the most strategically important data centre hubs in Gauteng. Through Infinity, customers benefit from ultra-low latency connectivity, scalable capacity, and secure, carrier-grade infrastructure designed to keep their businesses ahead in an extremely competitive digital landscape,” said Ellisha Gobind, chief Commercial Officer at Oni-Tel.

Africa Data Centres’ facilities continue to act as critical interconnection hubs across the continent, serving a wide range of users including enterprises, cloud providers, financial institutions, mobile network operators, and fixed network operators. The addition of Oni-Tel’s dark fibre solution further strengthens the carrier-neutral ecosystem in Gauteng, offering customers enhanced network performance, greater speed, and expanded connectivity options.

With demand for secure and high-performance digital infrastructure continuing to grow, Africa Data Centres remains committed to developing a robust, interconnected platform that supports enterprise innovation and sustainable growth across South Africa and the broader region.

Liquid connects KwaZulu-Natal schools with reliable internet access

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Each school receives internet connectivity with speeds of no less than 10 Mbps and a 500GB fair usage allowance. (Image source: African Data Centres)

Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a subsidiary of Cassava Technologies, has expanded its connectivity initiative in South Africa by linking 45 public schools in KwaZulu-Natal, specifically in Umlazi and Pinetown

This effort is delivering stable internet access to thousands of learners and educators, while pushing the nationwide rollout to 65% completion and significantly contributing to efforts aimed at reducing the country’s digital divide.

Under the programme, each school receives internet connectivity with speeds of no less than 10 Mbps and a 500GB fair usage allowance. This enables both students and teachers to utilise digital platforms, stream educational content, and remain connected throughout the school day.

“Connectivity is a catalyst for change,” said Ziaad Suleman, CEO of Cassava Technologies in South Africa and Botswana. “By connecting schools in Umlazi and Pinetown, we are not only providing internet access; we are opening doors to opportunity, equipping learners to compete in a digital world, and strengthening communities through inclusive education.”

For many of the participating schools, this marks their first exposure to digital learning tools within the classroom. Students can now engage with online curricula, global knowledge resources, and research platforms, while educators benefit from enhanced teaching tools, improved administrative processes, and more effective communication methods. In underserved communities, the initiative is reshaping how education is delivered.

The rollout is part of Liquid’s wider national programme to connect 298 public service institutions, of which 194 have already been completed. These sites include schools, healthcare centres, libraries, and traditional authority offices, with implementation continuing in phases through to 2029. As part of its commitment, Liquid is also responsible for maintaining and securing the deployed connectivity infrastructure, ensuring consistent and reliable service.

As the initiative progresses, each additional connection supports the advancement of South Africa’s education system and contributes to building a more digitally inclusive society. By providing dependable infrastructure, Liquid is enabling learners to participate in the digital economy and ensuring broader access to opportunities across communities.

Nigeria advances nationwide fibre connectivity project

AfDB backs Nigeria digital infrastructure expansion with US$200mn loan. (Image source: AfDB)

The board of directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a US$200mn loan to the government of Nigeria to support a major national initiative aimed at expanding fibre connectivity, strengthening digital skills, and accelerating job creation

As Africa’s most populous nation and the largest economy in West Africa, Nigeria is positioning its digital economy as a key driver of growth. The Digital Value Chain Infrastructure for Boosting Employment (D-VIBE) Project is designed to address connectivity gaps and enhance productivity nationwide. The programme will extend the country’s fibre network from approximately 30,000 km to 120,000 km, ensuring all 774 Local Government Areas are linked to high-speed broadband. This includes critical infrastructure such as schools, healthcare centres, agro-industrial zones, rural communities, and commercial hubs, while also establishing cross-border connections with Benin, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad.

Also referred to as Project BRIDGE, D-VIBE will be implemented through a public-private partnership model using a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). Under this structure, public ownership will range between 25% and 49%, while private investors will hold between 51% and 75%. This approach is intended to mitigate challenges such as high construction costs and Right-of-Way barriers that have historically slowed infrastructure rollout.

The African Development Bank Group’s US$200mn contribution forms part of a broader US$800mn sovereign financing package. Additional funding includes US$500mn from the World Bank and US$100mn from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Total investment in the project is estimated at US$2bn, supported by a €22mn grant from the European Union, a US$2.6mn project preparation grant from the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance, and at least US$1.2bn in private sector funding.

“Nigeria has the talent, the market, and the ambition; what it has lacked is the backbone infrastructure to connect that potential to opportunity. D-VIBE changes that. From the north to the south, from farms to factories to classrooms, this investment will make high-speed connectivity a reality for every Nigerian community and give young people the tools to build their futures digitally,” said Abdul Kamara, director general, African Development Bank Group Nigeria Office.

The project is being coordinated through a working group of development finance institutions, jointly led by the Nigerian government and the African Development Bank Group, to align technical design, studies, and funding strategies.

Beyond expanding infrastructure, D-VIBE will focus on stimulating demand through improved access to affordable devices, large-scale digital skills development, and support for digital platforms across priority sectors. It will also strengthen cybersecurity frameworks and promote market competition, while incorporating sustainability measures such as hybrid and renewable energy solutions to enhance resilience.

Over its lifecycle, the initiative is expected to generate up to 2.8 million jobs and increase national broadband penetration from 45% to around 70% by 2030.

The project supports Nigeria’s Vision 2050, the National Development Plan, and the Renewed Hope Development Plan (2026–2030), while also aligning with African Union Agenda 2063 and the African Development Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy (2024–2033).

ZTE showcases advanced digital solutions at GITEX Africa 2026

ZTE Corporation presents AI, 5G and network innovations at GITEX Africa 2026. (Image source: ZTE Corporation)

ZTE Corporation, a global provider of integrated information and communication technology solutions, showcased its latest innovations at GITEX Africa 2026 in Marrakech

Recognised as one of Africa’s most prominent technology and startup gatherings, GITEX Africa continues to play a central role in advancing the continent’s digital transformation. The event brings together technology companies, policymakers, startups, investors and industry talent to drive collaboration, strengthen digital infrastructure and unlock new growth opportunities.

During the 2026 edition, ZTE, alongside its ecosystem partners, presented a wide-ranging portfolio of advanced network and intelligent solutions. These included RAN UniSite, 5G-A technologies, AI-enabled platforms, 800G pluggable optical modules, 50G PON, FTTR, Wi-Fi 7 solutions, 5G-focused microwave systems, zero-carbon energy offerings, as well as integrated intelligent computing and server infrastructure. The portfolio highlights the company’s end-to-end capabilities in supporting next-generation digital ecosystems.

On the device front, ZTE introduced its 5G FWA portfolio, featuring CPE and MiFi solutions designed to deliver high-speed, stable and reliable connectivity across various use cases. The company also unveiled its latest AI-powered smartphones and next-generation Wi-Fi 7 devices, aimed at enhancing user experiences in imaging, entertainment and gaming, while further embedding smart technology into daily life.

ZTE’s presence at GITEX Africa 2026 reinforces its ongoing focus on enabling digital and intelligent transformation for customers worldwide, while supporting sustainable innovation and technological progress across Africa.

DBSA and NPC outline broadband expansion strategy to 2035

South Africa maps digital connectivity investment roadmap

The Development Bank of Southern Africa, working alongside the National Planning Commission, has finalised South Africa’s Digital Connectivity Investment Roadmap to 2035

This extensive study evaluates the country’s progress toward universal high-speed broadband and outlines the level of investment needed to meet connectivity goals over the next decade.

The roadmap highlights key funding gaps, priority interventions and collaboration opportunities necessary to expand dependable broadband access and support the country’s transition to a more inclusive digital economy.

At its core, the research converts national digital policy objectives into a structured, costed and fiscally aligned investment plan for Digital Connectivity Infrastructure. It aligns with major frameworks including the National Development Plan Vision 2030, SA Connect, the National Infrastructure Plan 2050 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

"This roadmap provides the country with a current, comprehensive, costed view of what is required to bridge the digital divide and achieve universal access to digital connectivity by 2035. It outlines a common, evidence-informed basis for coordinated planning across the public and private sector, in order to drive investment and delivery of the roadmap,” commented Commissioner Mark Swilling from the NPC.

From a methodological standpoint, the study incorporates the World Bank’s Beyond the Gap framework together with the International Telecommunication Union’s Universal and Meaningful Connectivity standards. Using scenario modelling and GIS-based spatial analysis, it maps connectivity gaps, while also estimating both capital and operational expenditure under varying economic and policy conditions.

The report adopts a broad ecosystem perspective, reviewing infrastructure layers such as international connectivity, backbone and metro networks, data centres, spectrum systems and last-mile access. It also recognises affordability, digital skills and institutional capacity as essential factors in achieving meaningful connectivity. Reaching universal high-speed access of 100 Mbps will depend on targeted infrastructure upgrades, a diversified mix of technologies and increased investment in rural areas, while affordability remains the biggest barrier driven by income constraints.

“South Africa’s Digital Connectivity Investment Roadmap to 2035 goes beyond policy to deliver a clear implementation framework spanning spectrum reform, municipal capacity, digital skills, universal service, and demand-side support,” stated Boitumelo Mosako, CEO of the DBSA. By clarifying institutional roles and strengthening intergovernmental coordination, the study establishes a practical platform for execution.

To guide implementation, the roadmap presents three defined investment pathways for the period 2025 to 2035:

A mobile-centric, least-cost model suited to constrained economic conditions
A hybrid approach combining mobile and fibre to balance performance and cost efficiency
A fibre-led, high-capacity model aligned with economic recovery and long-term competitiveness

Each pathway outlines trade-offs between public spending, service ambitions, technology choices and expected economic returns. The study also evaluates funding approaches, including public investment, public-private partnerships and blended finance, alongside reforms aimed at reducing deployment barriers and encouraging private sector participation.

Overall, the roadmap provides a practical, evidence-based framework to achieve universal and meaningful connectivity, now requiring coordinated action to fully realise its potential for inclusive growth, improved services and long-term resilience.

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