AGENDA ACCELERATING DRC’S DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION WIOCC GROUP, AFRICA’S converged open-access A A A digital infrastructure leader, has brought in experienced senior connectivity and data services professional, Mohammed Bouhelal, to establish its presence in the DRC – an important new market for the company, with the potential to become one of the fastest-growing digital economies on the African continent. “Our unique converged, open-access digital infrastructure (CODI) offering - carrier-neutral, open-access data centre facilities connecting to resilient, hyperscale, open-access, subsea and terrestrial networks - and a rich, vibrant digital ecosystem will help boost the DRC’s economy and expedite digital transformation in the country,” said Bouhelal. CSQUARED BRINGS HIGH-SPEED CONNECTIVITY TO WEST AFRICA ADTRAN ON 23 May announced that CSquared is using its FSP 3000 open optical transport technology to bring high-speed broadband connectivity to homes and businesses across Liberia. With comprehensive fibre assurance, Adtran’s solution enables CSquared to rapidly deploy an open-access 350 km backbone connecting Liberia to Ivory Coast and Guinea. With a mission to address Africa’s lack of robust, high- capacity infrastructure, CSquared is increasing access to e-commerce, remote learning, telemedicine and other digital services capable of transforming lives and livelihoods. With the backing of Google, the IFC, Mitsui and Convergence Partners, and a special partnership with USAID, CSquared is Liberia’s only wholesale infrastructure provider, delivering services to all MNOs, ISPs and the government of Liberia. WEMA BANK TO SET UP MSME TECH HUBS IN SEVEN STATES IN LINE WITH the Tinubu administration’s Commitment to providing more digital jobs for young Nigerians, the federal government through the Office of the vice-president is set to launch a digital hub that will empower one million youths across the country with digital and related skills. The centres to be known as FGN/ALAT Digital and SkillNnovation Hub will open first in Lagos and Borno States with Katsina, Cross River, Anambra, Oyo, and Kano to follow afterwards. They will be run in partnership with a leading financial institution in Nigeria, WEMA Bank. Mohammed Bouhelal, managing director of Open Access Data Centres DRC. The centres to be known as FGN/ALAT Digital and SkillNnovation Hub will open first in Lagos and Borno States. Image Credit: WIOCC, Adobe Stock www.communicationsafrica.com Issue 3 2023 9