Raxio and Laser Light aim to unlock Africa’s full digital potential

Africa’s underserved online markets are on the brink of a major digital leap as Raxio Group, a leading pan-African data centre operator, partners with Laser Light Africa, the regional arm of the U.S.-based advanced digital network provider

The collaboration aims to deliver faster, more affordable, and more reliable internet access across key growth markets.

The partnership — Raxio-Laser Light Team to Transform Digital Access in Markets Home to Half a Billion People — will link Raxio’s expanding portfolio of Tier III carrier-neutral data centres with Laser Light’s advanced optical network. The initiative will provide cutting-edge digital connectivity across seven high-potential African markets: Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Uganda — collectively home to nearly 500 million people.

By localising data through Raxio’s facilities and Laser Light’s high-speed network, the initiative will lower internet costs, improve service reliability, and accelerate Africa’s digital transformation across key sectors such as finance, e-commerce, healthcare, education, and entertainment.

Laser Light integrates subsea, terrestrial, and satellite optical infrastructure into a unified software-managed global platform that transmits data at the speed of light. The company also offers cloud solutions supported by its optical mesh network — engineered to handle vast data volumes efficiently and sustainably.

Transformative benefits

As Africa’s data demand continues to surge, businesses and consumers face high costs and unreliable international connections. This partnership is expected to address those challenges by:

• Reducing latency: Cutting delays from hundreds of milliseconds to just a few, enabling real-time applications in cloud computing, gaming, fintech, telemedicine, and AI.

• Increasing reliability: Hosting data in Tier III facilities designed for 99.982% uptime — less than two hours of annual downtime.

• Lowering costs: Local data caching and peering could reduce wholesale bandwidth costs by up to 90%, resulting in faster, more affordable services for end-users.

• Enhancing security: Minimising the number of networks involved in data transit, reducing exposure risks.

• Advancing sustainability: Laser Light’s optical transport technology consumes significantly less power per data unit, while localised routing cuts the energy demand of long-haul transmission.

Starting in Angola

The first phase of the rollout, scheduled for 2026, will launch in Angola, anchored by Raxio’s new data centre in Luanda. It will integrate with the country’s subsea cable landings and the Angonix Internet Exchange Point. Subsequent phases will extend to all Raxio sites across the continent.

“Digital infrastructure is the backbone of economic transformation,” said Robert Skjodt, CEO of Raxio Group. “By combining Raxio’s state-of-the-art facilities with Laser Light’s global optical network, we are delivering a platform that will power innovation, investment, and job creation for decades to come.”

Derek Friend, president and CEO of Laser Light Africa, added, “The teaming of these two companies positions Africa at the heart of a global digital highway. By opening new routes for data traffic, we are connecting African markets more directly to each other and to the rest of the world.”

Building ecosystems and skills

Beyond connectivity, the initiative will generate employment in data centre construction, operations, and network management, along with training programmes to develop local expertise in Tier III operations, peering, and optical technologies.

The partnership will also prioritise:

• Infrastructure integration: Deploying Laser Light’s optical mesh network combining terrestrial fibre, subsea cables, modular data systems, and MEO satellite connectivity across Raxio’s portfolio.

• Interconnectivity expansion: Establishing Points of Presence (PoPs) and interconnection hubs within Raxio data centres to boost regional and international traffic.

• Edge enablement: Jointly developing edge data centre strategies to bring cloud, IoT, AI, and enterprise services closer to end-users.

• Regulatory alignment: Ensuring compliance with data sovereignty, energy, and ICT regulations across markets.

Together, Raxio and Laser Light aim to unlock Africa’s full digital potential — bridging connectivity gaps and enabling inclusive growth across the continent.

Two new computer rooms provide 3,000 students and teachers with modern tech, high-speed internet, and training. (Image source: Paratus Group)

Internet Technologies Angola S.A. has inaugurated two new computer rooms at the Chiazi Polytechnic Institute in Cabinda, providing over 3,000 students and teachers with access to modern computers, interactive displays, and high-speed internet

The initiative forms part of Paratus’ commitment to expanding digital inclusion and equipping Africa’s next generation with the skills required for a digital future.

Funded through the Internet Technologies Angola S.A. Solidarity Golf event and contributions from corporate partners CABSHIP and NOSSA SEGUROS, the facilities are further supported by ANGOSAT-2 satellite technology, extending reliable connectivity to one of Angola’s most remote regions. Paratus will continue providing maintenance, technical support, and training to ensure the labs remain fully operational and impactful for years to come.

Francisco Pinto Leite, country manager of Internet Technologies Angola S.A., said, "Our focus is on creating sustainable educational resources that empower local teachers and students to build practical skills. Projects like this go beyond technology and to strengthen our community and foster long-term growth."

Schalk Erasmus, CEO of Paratus Group, added, "Paratus believes that access to digital tools is the foundation for Africa’s future. By investing in innovative projects, we are shaping opportunities for young people to develop skills that will help them participate fully in the global digital economy."

The launch of these computer rooms in Cabinda highlights Paratus’ dedication to long-term social investment in education and digital inclusion across Africa. By combining innovative technology, local partnerships, and sustainable support, Paratus aims to create opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom, helping communities thrive in an increasingly connected world.

Sandy Motley, president, Fixed Networks, Nokia. (Image source: Nokia)

Nokia has announced that fibertime is expanding its fibre broadband access footprint to reach an additional 400,000 homes across South Africa’s underserved communities

This rollout is part of fibertime’s broader goal of connecting 2 million homes by 2028. The company will deploy a combination of Nokia’s IP and fibre access technologies to build semi-mobile networks in underserved areas, providing end-users with unlimited high-speed internet across homes, businesses, and communities.

Under the agreement, fibertime will deploy Nokia’s Lightspan access nodes and Wi-Fi 6 enabled fiber access points, using Nokia’s ONT Easy Start to automate and simplify fiber modem activation and streamline deployments. Fibertime will also implement Nokia’s 7750 Wireless Access Gateway to create a single SSID network, allowing customers to move around their townships while staying connected.

“With Nokia’s support, we’re able to significantly ramp up the roll-out of our low-cost, high-speed, fiber internet service to underserved township communities across South Africa. We’re now connecting 1,200 households a day to flexible, high-speed access — up to 950Mbps in some cases — without the need for contracts or debit orders. Once a township is connected, customers simply buy vouchers at a local spaza, retail outlet, or via their banking app, enter the voucher number in their fibertime app, and immediately have access to unlimited and unthrottled fiber-to-the-home internet at a cost of R5 per day,” said Danvig De Bruyn, CEO, fibertime.

To further enhance automation and scalability across its network, fibertime will also deploy Nokia’s Altiplano and Network Services Platform solutions, along with the Altiplano Fiber Health Analyzer, which detects network anomalies and identifies potential issues before they escalate.

“Nokia’s automation and AI-powered tools not only help us to improve operational efficiencies but also enhance the reliability of our FTTH network. We can now detect disruptions earlier and resolve incidents more quickly to ultimately improve the subscriber experience,” commented De Bruyn.

“Reliable broadband is critical for thriving communities—powering education, healthcare, and local economies. Yet too many people remain unconnected because of the unique challenges tied to where they live. With our fiber and IP solutions, we’re changing that, bringing broadband services to thousands of customers at once, in regions once considered too difficult to serve,” said Sandy Motley, president, Fixed Networks, Nokia.  

The agreement to connect an additional 400,000 homes builds on a previous announcement between Nokia and fibertime™ to deploy FTTH networks across Cape Town, Johannesburg, Gqeberha, Mangaung and Stellenbosch.  

Merger creates UAE homegrown fintech leader to drive innovation, scale, and financial inclusion across Middle East and Africa

Network International, a leading fintech company across the Middle East and Africa (MEA), has officially completed its strategic merger with Magnati, a prominent payment solution provider in the UAE, under the ownership of a Brookfield-led consortium

The newly merged entity will operate as Network International LLC. With an enhanced suite of offerings including digital payments, data-driven insights, SME lending, and advanced fraud prevention, the combined platform is positioned to drive innovation, scale, and financial inclusion across the region. The company will continue partnering with governments to accelerate digital transformation and broaden access to financial services throughout MEA.

Hadi Badri, chairman of the board of Network International, said, “This merger creates a UAE homegrown fintech champion for the Middle East and Africa region with attractive opportunities for growth and innovation. The combined platform of Network International and Magnati will empower local merchants to thrive in one of the world’s most dynamic fintech regions.”

Murat Cagri Suzer, CEO, added, “By uniting two leaders with deep regional expertise and capabilities, we are creating a fintech platform with the scale, technology, and talent to shape the future of digital commerce across the region. Together, we bring even greater value to our clients and partners through diverse product offerings, faster innovation, enhanced data and insights, and a stronger geographic footprint.”

The integration of both businesses will be conducted in a phased manner, with their brands continuing to coexist for the time being.