Communications Africa Issue 2 2023

Data Centres

Demands of the digital age are accelerating the seemingly unstoppable rise of data centres on the continent.

South Africa

Cassava Technologies’ investments in South Africa through its business units.

26

Satellite Technology

Es'hailSat discusses the importance of satellite to support terrestrial services.

Cyber Security

Find out how proper workforce training can be a vital part of mitigating cyber risk.

A note from the Editor

THE RISE OF data centres in Africa is unstoppable. In recent developments, Paratus Angola's data centres in Luanda have been awarded ISO 9001, ISO 27001, and PCI-DSS certifications (see Page 12). On Page 21, Naveed Kashif, Nokia’s head of southern Africa cluster and customer business team for MTN Group, guides us through his company’s rebrand and strategic transformation being executed to help businesses realise the potential of digital.

Reliable communications are critical for oil and gas companies; Ali Gencer, chief operating officer, Opticoms, reports that private cellular networks, especially private 5G are delivering high-speed, ultra-reliable and low-latency communications enabling use cases across various sectors (see Page 16)

According to our story on Page 20, organisations must invest in ongoing education, training, and certification programmes for their personnel, suggests Brandon Muller, Kaspersky tech expert and consultant in the Middle East and African region. These changes have clearly helped Africa's digital markets grow and become connected more affordably than ever before.

Upcoming Events Calendar 2023

MAY

16-18

CABSAT 2023

Dubai

https://www.cabsat.com/

16-18

Integrate Middle East

Dubai

https://www.integrateme.com/

22-26

AfricaCommsWeek

Lagos

https://www.africacommunicationsw eek.com/

JULY

11-12

NORTH AFRICA COM

Cairo

https://tmt.knect365.com/northafrica-com/

AUGUST

3-4

ICABCD 2023

Durban

https://icabcd.org/2023/

SEPTEMBER

15-18

IBC 2023

Amsterdam

https://show.ibc.org/

OCTOBER

2

Technext Coinference

Lagos

https://coinference.technext.ng/

16-20

GITEX Global

Dubai

https://www.gitex.com/all-news

17-19

MWC Africa

Kigali

https://www.mwcafrica.com/

NOVEMBER

14-16

AfricaCom

Cape Town

https://tmt.knect365.com/africacom/

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND TRENDS WITH CABSAT

CABSAT 2023, the flagship event for satellite, broadcast, content creation, production, distribution, digital media, and entertainment industries, is set to unite industry leaders and experts to highlight the sectors’ emerging technologies and trends from 16-18 May 2023, at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The three-day show will feature products and services for all users involved in the satellite-enabled communications industry in the MEASA region and beyond, including market segments such as aviation, broadcast, government, maritime, space agencies, and other sectors.

The much anticipated 29th edition of CABSAT is set to shed light on emerging trends in the Satellite Communications market, which is predicted to reach US$53bn by 2027 and grow at a CAGR of 14% by

2030, and also place a strong emphasis on the industry's capacity to leverage cutting-edge technologies. It is noted that satellite technology will continue to expand and become more important to how businesses operate, as a result of the development of the connected digital economy. As a major diary date in the satellite and space technology industry calendar, CABSAT is committed to supporting stakeholders in their efforts to collaborate and make a difference.

CABSAT 2023 will highlight emerging technologies in satellite communications.

Image Credit: CABSAT

“With the potential to create entirely new business models, the African blockchain industry is understandably experiencing rapid growth, with investors readily embracing it. Africa exhibits a magnetic collaborative environment among developers and organisations in the space. This supportive ecosystem drives the industry. As investors continue to express confidence in the blockchain industry's sustainability and prospects, we anticipate further growth and investment in Africa in the coming years.”

GIDEON GREAVES

MD

CV VC Africa

three target sectors for cyberattacks globally. As energy grids become more resilient through the application of digitalisation, attention must be paid to the design and implementation of cybersecurity.”

MALVIN NAICKER MD

Hitachi Energy

“

The customer and ESG – these are the leading issues across the META region. While it is still in the early stages, we are seeing an increasing number of companies implementing programmes aimed at reducing the energy consumption of their IT infrastructure, extending the lifecycles of their IT equipment and centralising datacentres to reduce their environmental footprint.”

JYOTI LALCHANDANI

Group vice president & regional managing director (META)

IDC

“A significant aspect of resilience is in cybersecurity. The world needs a cybersecure ecosystem for a resilient electric future. Energy is among the top

“

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is fueled by innovation and knowledge. Technology offers a great opportunity for Africa to embrace new opportunities to boost digital transformation and contribute to the global economy.”

Image

Credit: Top Right: Hitachi Energy, Bottom Right: Ericsson

THELMA QUAY

Director of infrastructure, skill and empowerment Smart Africa

“The DPF offers new financing instruments that benefit MSMEssometimes considered too risky for traditional banks - including crowdfunding for new businesses, private equity for innovative and high-potential companies, and debt funds that mobilise institutional investors to finance existing SMEs."

CYRIL DESPONTS

Economist and programme co-leader World Bank

“MEA is a diverse region with many countries at different stages of development, and that is reflected in our report. Data consumption with high-speed networks is increasing exponentially across the MEA market in both urban and rural areas. Reliable 4G and 5G networks are critical for bridging the digital divide in the region, in addition to supporting dataintensive applications for communities and businesses. Nokia is helping both operators and enterprises unlock new opportunities with 5G, building the evolution towards future technologies that will enable enhanced experiences such as the Metaverse.”

MIKKO LAVANTI Head of Mobile Networks Nokia MEA

“Mobile money is highly beneficial to those who rely on cash in their daily activities. These are often people in lowincome or marginalised communities.

Reliance on cash causes problems. Afrimoney is harnessing growing mobile penetration in Angola to offer users a simple, safe and accessible alternative, accessed through mobile phones.”

KÁTIA DA CONCEIÇÃO,

Director

Afrimoney Angola

“We are pleased to partner with Mastercard to digitise the lending space and introduce new innovative products that serve growing segments such as BNPL, microfinance and SME. The partnership with Mastercard reflects the trust of global financial institutions in egabi FSI as a fintech technology enabler and the quality of egabi’s products. We believe that this partnership will open doors for wider market coverage and together with Mastercard will be able to redefine the digital lending industry in the region.”

AHMED SAMEH CEO egabi FSI

WI-FLIX PARTNERS WITH MTN FOR STREAMING SERVICES IN ZAMBIA

Wi-flix has expanded its presence to Zambia by collaborating with telecommunications company, MTN. Through this partnership, Wi-flix will offer MTN subscribers in Zambia access to premium content. Apart from this, the partnership will provide consumers daily, weekly, and monthly data packages of different price points, making the service accessible to all customer segments.

Louis Manu, co-founder and chief commercial officer of Wi-flix, speaking to the launch of the streaming service in the South-Central African country, said the move forms part of the company's ambition to become the leading content provider for the African continent and the diaspora.

KENYA TACKLES DIGITAL DIVIDE WITH OPENWIFI DEPLOYMENT

ThinkWiFi, an Africa-based ad-tech free WiFi internet service provider, and Mawingu, an internet service provider backed by Microsoft, has launched the first outdoor Telecom Infra Project (TIP) OpenWiFi network in Kenya.

“ThinkWiFi’s mission is to empower people by giving them access to the internet. We are a purpose-based business working to close the digital divide,” said

Janine Rebelo, founder and CEO of ThinkWiFi.

“Working with Mawingu and TIP OpenWiFi provides social upliftment where everyone can get connected to enterprise-grade Wi-Fi through an easy-to-use advertising platform. It’s a win-win-win where brands win by gaining access to high growth consumer segments, consumers win with free, uncapped, high speed connectivity, and the community wins by getting unfettered access to the digital economy through free Wi-Fi networks powered by advertising revenue,” states Rebelo.

NETACTUATE LAUNCHES THIRD DATA CENTRE IN NAIROBI

NetActuate, a leading global provider of network and infrastructure solutions, has announced the launch of services from a new data centre location in Nairobi, Kenya. This brings NetActuate’s total footprint in Africa to three strategic locations for maximum reach: Nairobi, Accra, and Johannesburg.

Located at Sameer Industrial Park, this data centre is the most connected in East Africa. The new Nairobi facility will provide customers with direct access to major African markets, including South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt. This data centre offers lowlatency connectivity to major Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) in Africa, and is certified compliant for ISO 9001, ISO 45001, ISO 27001, ISO 14001, PCI DSS, ISAE3402, and ISO 22301.

Residents of Zambia will have access to premium content.

This will be NetActuate’s third strategic location in Africa.

Image Credit: Top Left: Adobe Stock , Right: Adobe Stock

VODACOM PLEDGES MORE INVESTMENT FOR SOUTH AFRICA

At the fifth South African Investment Conference, Vodacom pledged to invest R60bn in South Africa over the next five years, having delivered on its promise to invest R50bn over five years in 2018. This latest substantial investment is expected to contribute significantly to enhancing network resilience to keep customers connected, further accelerating Vodacom's deep rural coverage programme to help bridge the digital divide and deepening financial inclusion.

“Looking back over the past five years, we believe that our initial R50 billion pledge has played a significant role in fostering digital inclusion for all and helping to unlock economic and social opportunities for South Africa,” said Shameel Joosub, Vodacom Group CEO.

PARTNERSHIP TO OFFER ICOSNET ACCESS TO LIQUID DATAPORT SERVICES

Liquid Dataport, a business of Cassava Technologies, has partnered with ICOSNET, the only private ISP provider in Algeria, to enable customers to access digital communication services offered by Liquid Dataport in Algeria.

ICOSNET, which currently offers customers Internet access services, unified communications services, cyber security, and cloud solutions, will now have access to Liquid’s world-class pan-African network for their clients’ connectivity needs.

MFS AFRICA PARTNERS WITH WESTERN UNION TO IMPROVE FINANCIAL INCLUSION ACROSS AFRICA

Africa’s largest payment gateway, MFS Africa, has partnered with Western Union to enable individuals and businesses across the continent to receive money from more than 200 countries and territories. The partnership will enable funds to be sent from countries around the world to mobile wallets across Africa through the organisation’s licensed payment rails. The service will first launch in Madagascar, and eventually to other countries across the continent.

The investment will help to bridge the digital divide in South Africa.

The partnership will enable funds to be sent from countries around the world to mobile wallets across Africa.

The partnership will help address ICOSNET’s clients’ connectivity needs.

AFRICELL LAUNCHES MOBILE MONEY PLATFORM IN ANGOLA

Africell has launched mobile financial services in Angola. Backed by Angola’s newest mobile network operator, the Afrimoney mobile money platform will provide essential financial tools to many of the approximately 50% of Angolans who don’t have bank accounts. Through their mobile phones, Afrimoney users will be able to transact digitally with other individuals and organisations on the network, gaining the ability to transfer, spend and earn instantly. Angola’s mobile money industry has more scope for growth than most countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

AIRTEL AFRICA TO SUPPORT DIGITAL LEARNING

Airtel Africa has reaffirmed to UNICEF that it will continue to accelerate access to quality education to millions of children in Africa, through digital learning. The company's CEO, Segun Ogunsanya, who was speaking during a visit to Kitende Secondary School, Entebbe, one of the schools connected to the Internet

by the mobile telecommunications operator, said, “Airtel Africa is cognisant of the great value education contributes to our nations across the continent, which is why we are very deliberate in promoting education and empowering our people.”

“Airtel Africa will continue to support the shared efforts of the government of Uganda, by identifying and collaborating with strategic partners like UNICEF to transform the way our children learn. We commit to do this in Uganda and across the 13 other countries where Airtel Africa operates.”

PARATUS AND INFINERA COLLABORATE ON EQUIANO CABLE SYSTEM

With the landing of the Equiano submarine cable in June of 2022 in Namibia, the Paratus Group has established a partnership with Infinera, a pioneer of advanced optical networking solutions, in order to provide better services in the coming months.

Schalk Erasmus, CEO of the Paratus Group, stressed, “Paratus have worked with Infinera for a number of years on other projects, and this partnership allows Paratus to provide connectivity that is 20 times faster in capacity, modern and flexible to ensure economies of scale, and offers efficiency in the services that the Paratus Group provides throughout its seven operating countries.”

The medium will provide essential financial tools to Angolans who don’t have bank accounts.

Airtel Africa and UNICEF launched a US$57mn partnership in 2021 to enhance digital learning for children.

The volume of data and information being shared worldwide has grown significantly in recent years,and the Equiano cable will strengthen and improve communication.

AFRICAN SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS LAUNCHES 5G MOBILE TECHNOLOGY

In collaboration with partner universities in Africa and Finland, the African School of Economics (ASE) announced the launch of Africa’s first 5G Mokki Tech Space, a network of immersive digital learning and remote work environments connected via fifthgeneration mobile communication technology.

MASTERCARD AND EGABI REVOLUTIONISE DIGITAL LENDING

Mastercard has formed a partnership with egabi FSI, an IT banking solutions company, to expand access to new embedded finance and digital lending products across Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa for financial institutions and non-traditional partners.

US$1.5MN PROJECT TO BOOST DIGITAL TRADE ACROSS AFRICA

The African Development Fund and Smart Africa Alliance have jointly launched a US$1.5mn project to streamline digital trade and e-commerce policies across ten African countries. The project will see to the implementation of regional training and capacitybuilding programmes focusing on cross-border e-payment and e-commerce for governments, private sectors, and SMEs. These programmes are expected to reach 600 participants, with 60% being women and youth. Additionally, a certified gender-sensitive elearning training programme addressing the unique challenges faced by women in digital trade and ecommerce, will be developed and disseminated to 2,500 participants, of whom 60% will be women.

The agreement was signed on 25 April, a day ahead of the 2023 Transform Africa Summit which took place in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, from 26-28 April.

Discussions took place on the campus of the African School of Economics. Digital lending can be made simpler and easier than before.

Digital trade for SMEs could boost Africa’s economy.

Smart Africa director general,Lacina Kone,and AfDB director general for the southern Africa region,Leila Mokaddem.

CENTRES

Demands of the DIGITAL AGE

ACCORDING TO THE World Bank, with Africa’s share of the world’s population projected to become the largest by 2100, it is critical for the continent to increase the uptake of digital technologies to help drive employment growth each year and enable economic transformation.

As the continent continues to move steadily into the digital sphere, businesses will invariably generate more data from their operations which can be turned into a valuable asset to help provide actionable information for decision making. “To be or not to be datacentric is no longer debatable, it’s just a question of when,” remarked Gert Duvenhage, COO of Paratus Group, a pan-African

telecommunications operator.

However, with this phenomenon comes a greater reliance on digital infrastructure and computer which, according to Duvenhage, can be challenging to stay ahead of. “The reality is that there is a major downside when you start adding up the associated costs and risks. Operational and maintenance costs, back-up, protection, security against cyber breaches, network connectivity, etc. are all issues that need proper consideration.

“So, if you’re using your office premises to house your computer equipment, you need air conditioning to keep the equipment cool, you need to safeguard the equipment against theft, fire, or any kind of damage, you need to

Data centres are becoming indispensable for businesses operating in the fourth industrial revolution.

Image Credit: Adobe Stock

maintain the equipment and you need to protect what it houses so that your data and your business’ information is safe.”

The data centre deluge

The demands of the digital age are accelerating the seemingly unstoppable rise of data centres on the continent; facilities that protect computer equipment and ensure that data and business information is safeguarded.

Recently, for example, Paratus Angola has announced that its data centres in Luanda have been awarded ISO 9001, ISO 27001, and PCIDSS certifications; news that came soon after the Paratus facility in Lusaka, Zambia, received the same international approvals.

In Ghana, MDXi Appolonia, a subsidiary of MainOne (an Equinix company in Ghana) has received its Tier III Constructed Facility certification (TCCF) from the Uptime Institute.

To be or not to be data-centric is no longer debatable, it’s just a question of when.”

The facility features private data centre suites, enterprise-grade 24×7 multi-level security and video surveillance, precision cooling, safety and fire suppression systems with multiple redundancies built into the power, cooling and security infrastructure. It has maintained 100% uptime since launch, and is managed by highly trained engineers operating from an operations centre matching international standards.

Also recognising the African opportunity, Agility Logistics Parks, a leading developer of industrial and logistics real estate, has launched tailored, master-planned data centre campus sites in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt and Ghana, with more to come. The sites are being readied at ultra-modern ALP warehousing complexes in fast-growing markets and mega-cities that are looking to add hyperscale data centre capacity and resolve data latency, security and compliance challenges to speed up their growth and improve competitiveness.

Of course, customers making use of these facilities need peace-of-mind that their equipment and data is safe and secure. To shed light on how this is achieved, Paratus shared the steps it takes to ensure customers can rest easy.

The company explained that at its facility in Lusaka, the building has verified access so that

only customers that are known and registered are able to access and a reception check-in that requires identification to be admitted. This aspect is managed stringently with regular checks and the company has utilised fingerprinting technology for all tenants as well.

Around the entire facility there is fencing and gates, and Paratus employs 24/7 onsite security personnel who are aided by CCTV monitoring both inside and outside. Once inside, there is physical security for each customer server and equipment in the form of locked caged cabinets on the data centre floor, each with unique keys.

On the virtual side, next-gen firewalls protect all incoming and outgoing traffic to every part of the network. This platform is fully resilient, as it is built with many servers acting as one. This is called vSAN, which stands for Virtual Storage Area Network, and, because a vSAN has many servers, this makes the platform highly tolerant to any issues which may arise.

In addition to these security measures, the company combats data loss through its guaranteed power availability and resilience –it has two dedicated generators and separate utilities UPS to ensure electrical autonomy; highly-efficient and resilient cooling systems with constant positive pressure throughout the facility; state-of-the-art fire detection and suppression with environmentally safe, low-

“

You need to be able to cope with the demands that the digital age will impose upon your business because we have already entered the digital age. ”

pressure suppression gas Novec; disaster recovery and conference facilities; dedicated onsite NOC operators and technicians to ensure consistent monitoring; and more.

Duvenhage concluded, “If you are not currently using a data centre or if you don’t think you need one soon, then, to put it bluntly, your business could be at risk. You need to be able to cope with the demands that the digital age will impose upon your business because we have already entered the digital age. In essence, data centres are the key to unlocking more of your business potential.”

Paratus’ data centre in Lusaka,Zambia.

Paratus’ Windhoek data centre in Namibia.

Image Credit: Top and Bottom: Paratus

IN RECENT DEVELOPMENTS, Vodacom

Mozambique has launched commercial 5G services in the country's capital city of Maputo, according to recent press reports, and plans to extend its 5G service to other parts of the country in the coming years, connecting up to 75% of the population by 2025.“5G technology will significantly improve the quality of the telecommunications service provided in the country, particularly in the materialisation of the Internet of things (IoT) and ‘smart everything’ (smart cities, smart agriculture, smart ports, etc.), as it is the technology that better supports these cases," said Mateus Magala, Minister of Transport and Communications.

Meanwhile in Kenya, Safaricom became the first service provider in the country to launch 5G in October 2022. Safaricom has since increased its 5G coverage to 28 towns across 21 counties, empowering its customers in 5G areas to enjoy superfast internet connectivity

The growth of 5G IN AFRICA

Around a dozen nations in Africa have now launched 5G services, and there has been a flurry of new developments.

on the move, and for their homes and businesses. Safaricom has introduced 5G data bundles to enable 400,000 customers using 5G smartphones to browse at ultra-fast speeds, with typical speeds of 400Mbps to 700Mbps.

"As a digital lifestyle enabler, we are excited about a 5G future, which makes it possible to close the digital divide in underserved communities, provide access to critical services such as healthcare or spur economic growth by connecting small businesses to new opportunities," said Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom PLC.

Orange launched its first commercial 5G network in Africa in late 2022, in Botswana, while in February 2023, Nokia signed a deal with MTN to expand 5G in South Africa.

A recent report from Nokia notes that 5G deployments in Africa are at a nascent stage and poised to gain momentum in the coming years, although many operators are still developing their business models around 4G.

Image Credit: Adobe Stock

Advanced connectivity for oil & gas

Ali Gencer, chief operating officer, Opticoms, discusses the benefits of 5G for oil and gas operations.

What advantages does 5G offer for oil/gas/refinery operators, as compared to other conventional technologies?

Oil, gas and refinery fields are located in big outdoor environments where advanced cellular technologies such as 4G (LTE) and 5G are the best solutions to cope with the coverage, capacity and performance requirements of the operators. Private cellular networks – especially private 5G complemented with low earth orbit (LOE) – can enable oil and gas companies to economically cover their operation area, delivering high-speed, ultra-reliable and low-

latency communication enabling several usecases.

Compared to Wi-Fi, private 5G needs far fewer access points, offers better security via E2E mechanism (while Wi-Fi standards cover only L1 & L2 security), reliable coverage, uninterrupted mobility and can handle IoT demands easier. Getting the vast amount of data in real-time from workers, environment, infrastructure, devices, machines etc. opens a new door for the energy companies to drive automation, real-time monitoring and decision making, which enables them to re-define the processes to become safer, more productive and more profitable.

Which use cases are best enabled using private 5G for the oil and gas industry?

Remoteness and isolation of oil and gas fields, harsh environmental conditions, strong and unpredictable weather conditions and distance from the shore are some of the many challenges strengthening the need for a reliable communications solution at drilling sites, vessels, and offshore platforms. The high diversity of devices in oil and gas companies, i.e. smartphones, push to talk devices (MCPTT), sensors, cameras, automated guided vehicles, teleoperated vehicles, inspection robots, drones, AR / VR, robotic controls etc. serve some of several applications that 5G can enable.

We see 5G enabled use cases in four main clusters, as illustrated at the bottom of p16.

Will 5G introduce a new complexity as a new technology?

We at Opticoms see that 5G is offering simplicity, by consolidating all existing technologies below 5G. 5G can also retro-fit the already existing non-5G devices using certain integration techniques, so that the already-made investments can be utilised. We have delivered many projects, where 5G devices and non-5G devices work in hybrid mode under 5G. Also, 5G is being used as an umbrella technology to cover the systems such as DMR, LoRaWAN etc.

5G for us is an innovation platform, that not only solves today’s challenges such as reliable coverage, high capacity, high bandwidth or 3GPP based advanced security, but also opens up a new world for innovative use cases that will have a direct benefit to the industry.

5G offers simplicity by consolidating all existing technologies below 5G.”

To what extent do you think oil and gas operators are receptive to 5G technologies, and how do you hope to grow your business in the Middle East and Africa?

The oil and gas industry can significantly benefit from private cellular technology that can save time and money as well as improve safety. According to estimates from McKinsey & Company, making use of advanced connectivity to optimise drilling and production throughput and improve maintenance and field operations could add up to US$250bn of value to the industry’s upstream operations by 2030.

The potential benefits of advanced connectivity to the oil and gas industry are already visible today, however we see that the benefits are only the tip of the iceberg, and more is yet to come with advancements in the E2E ecosystem.

At Opticoms, we see great potential in the Middle East and Africa. Until now in our operations we have focused on Europe and gathered experience from several sectors, where we have solved real customer problems together with our partners. We would like to offer our solutions also to the Middle East and African markets via establishing a new hub in Turkey, which would ease the logistics and operations.

Revolutionising payments FOR BUSINESSES

Cellulant aims to transform how business is done with digital transformation.

CELLULANT, A PROMINENT payments technology company, seeks to revolutionise payment processes for businesses in Africa by introducing a range of online and offline payment solutions. Although the payments market in Africa is rapidly expanding, the lack of a unified payment infrastructure presents a significant obstacle to businesses seeking to establish a presence on the continent.

Founded in 2003 during the height of Africa's mobile technology boom, Cellulant is developing Africa's most comprehensive payment infrastructure, offering a single API payment platform that enables businesses to collect payments from mobile money, local and international cards, or banks both online and

offline. Given that Africa hosts 70% of the world's US$1 trillion mobile money market, Cellulant recognises the importance of providing alternative payment methods for African consumers, especially since card penetration rates sit at just 3%.

At the recently concluded 25th Annual Harvard Africa Business Conference in Boston, Cellulant's group CEO, Akshay Grover, emphasised, "Solving the payments challenges in Africa is not just about payments but accelerating global economic growth. Africa's dynamic economies and lack of an established payment infrastructure have resulted in a unique occurrence on the continent.

“On the one hand, this has prompted the growth of payment platforms and solutions to

meet the various needs of businesses and consumers, turning Africa into a centre of innovation in the payments sector.

A payments infrastructure in Africa must holistically address the needs of businesses and their consumers.”

“On the other hand, with multiple providers, a wide range of payment methods exists due to the absence of a consistent infrastructure, enabling businesses to collect payments seamlessly or easily operate across borders. Therefore, a payments infrastructure in Africa must holistically address the needs of businesses and their consumers by making it easy to collect payments online and offlineregardless of the size of the business.”

Cellulant's payments platform, Tingg, is a one-stop-shop solution for multinational and international businesses across Africa's diverse payment landscape, connecting to more than 370 payment methods from mobile money operators and banks across the continent, as well as global and regional card switches like Visa, Mastercard, NIBSS, and Verve.

Tingg caters to businesses in various sectors, including airlines, telecoms, e-commerce, ridehailing, retail, and remittances, offering full-stack offline and online payment capabilities and a seamless payment experience to their customers. ❮❮

Cellulant is developing Africa’s most comprehensive payment infrastructure.

Akshay Grover,group CEO at Cellulant.

Maintaining a human firewall

Proper training will ensure that personnel follow best practices and reduce the possibility of a cyber-breach.

THE PERILS OF cybercrime are only becoming more prominent as Africa continues to find its feet in the digital age, posing a real threat to businesses looking to establish themselves in this new environment.

According to global cybersecurity and digital privacy company, Kaspersky, 40% of industrial control systems (ICS) computers were attacked with malware throughout 2022. In Africa specifically, this figure sits at 47%, with Ethiopia (62%), Algeria (59%) and Burundi (57%) experiencing the most attacks on ICS infrastructure. Other stand-outs included Rwanda (46%), Kenya (41%), Nigeria (40%),

Zimbabwe (40%), Ghana (39%), Zambia (38%) South Africa (36%), and Uganda (36%). This represents a high growth threat landscape, says Kaspersky, that no public or private sector entity – especially in critical areas such as energy and mining – can ignore.

“One infected USB drive or a single spearphishing email is all it takes for cybercriminals to bridge the air gap and penetrate an isolated ICS network. Traditional security is not adequate to protect industrial environments from rapidly evolving cyber threats. As attacks against critical infrastructure increase, choosing the right approach to secure systems has never been more important, remarks Brandon Muller,

Image Credit: Adobe Stock

Kaspersky tech expert and consultant in the Middle East and Africa region.

“Despite all the innovations in modern cybersecurity solutions, human error still plays a significant role in compromising ICS systems. As such, it needs to be managed much more proactively than what is currently happening.”

According to Kaspersky, building this requires the right security awareness and training solutions that go beyond basic training. These should deliver training that is easily digestible, practical, and memorable. Beyond that, sectorspecific interventions should be considered.

“It is a holistic approach towards ICS cybersecurity that incorporates hardware, software, and user awareness training components that will result in a hardened defensive posture around all aspects of OT security processes,” says Muller.

A cyber-conscious culture

The importance of proper training is reiterated by Michael Heering, marketing director, global field marketing at the SANS Institute, a company which specialises in information security, cybersecurity training and certificates.

He comments, “Training the workforce is critical in creating a strong cybersecurity culture and effectively mitigating cyber threats.

All employees, both technical and nontechnical, should receive regular training to understand the risks and identify threats. Continuous learning is vital, as even experienced security professionals can fall victim to the latest phishing scams. To stay ahead of cybercriminals, organisations must invest in ongoing education, training, and certification programmes for their personnel.

Heering continues, “Adopting new technologies and initiatives is crucial for organisations to tackle cyber threats effectively. This includes implementing advanced security solutions like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to detect and respond to threats in real-time. Furthermore, embracing a zero-trust security model can help minimise the attack surface by limiting access to sensitive data and systems.

“Collaboration between industry partners, governments, and law enforcement is essential in sharing threat intelligence and developing effective countermeasures. Initiatives like information sharing and analysis centres can facilitate this collaboration, helping organisations respond to threats more efficiently,” Heering concludes. ❮❮

Unleashing the power of digitalisation

Naveed Kashif, Nokia’s head of southern Africa cluster and customer business team for MTN Group.

EARLIER THIS year, at MWC Barcelona 2023, Nokia unveiled a refreshed brand as part of its long-term strategic transformation to deliver sustainable, profitable growth. The company has revamped its look to more clearly signal who it is today: a B2B technology innovation leader dedicated to realising the potential of digital in every industry.

Communications Africa: What prompted the updated strategy and rebrand?

Naveed Kashif: The brand refresh directly supports Nokia’s company and technology strategy to deliver sustained long-term growth

as we capture the opportunity of digital transformation in every industry.

The new logo reflects the energised, dynamic and modern Nokia of today: a B2B technology innovation leader playing a pivotal role in an increasingly digital world, driving productivity, sustainable growth, and inclusive access. It underpins our strategy to be solely focused on being a B2B technology innovation leader and scale the B2B business as we capture the opportunity of digital transformation.

The refreshed brand is a visual representation of Nokia’s purpose: ‘to create technology that helps the world act together’. Created from five abstracted letterforms, each works together to read as ‘Nokia’. This is

Image Credit: Nokia

symbolic of our belief in collaboration. We are bringing together customer and partner ecosystems to create tomorrow’s digital services and applications – delivering collaborative advantage, together.

Communications Africa: Why have you identified the need to develop ESG into a competitive advantage?

Naveed Kashif:Sustainability is a core component of Nokia business and technology strategies. The way we see it, there is no green without digital. Last year, we announced our enhanced ESG strategy, designed to maximise Nokia’s impact. Combining its technology, solutions and capabilities to address some of the biggest global challenges, the strategy also aims to create increased value. We have been chosen as one of the most ethical companies for several years in a row. We pride ourselves on our ethics and compliance practices.

Communications Africa: How important do you consider the African and Middle East regions to the company?

Naveed Kashif: The Middle East and Africa have quickly expanded, adapted and evolved to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The region has a rich history and a diverse ecosystem of critical industries that keep the world’s societies and economies moving forward.

While known best for its rich oil and gas resources, the Middle East and Africa also leads the world in low-carbon footprint desalination technology. It boasts a strong mining market with over 400 mines supplying

the world with copper, iron, gold and titanium – essential elements to the construction industry, consumer electronics, communication networks, and more.

With so many key global industries, the region is a key market for digitalisation. This allows enterprises to build greater resilience for their business and their operations. Helping to address supply chain challenges, but also providing the tools needed to diversify business models for the future. Whether it’s connected sensors and infrastructure for monitoring environmental conditions or optimising operations to create less waste, digitalisation holds the key.

Nokia’s products and services are at the very heart of digital age development. We are dedicated to bringing technologies like 5G, private campus networks and modernised mission-critical IP/MPLS networks to enterprises, delivering solutions that go far beyond “good coverage”. Our solutions for enterprises provide the elements needed to support productivity-enhancing operational tools like digital twins and AR-guided work instruction. They are essential for increased automation for port operations and mining, and remote communications coverage for renewable energy operations. Our societycritical network technologies allow for improved situational awareness for public safety and accessibility to smarter citizen services. ❮❮

The new logo reflects the modern Nokia of today.

AFRICA

“ SOUTH

CASSAVA TECHNOLOGIES will be setting up business units in South Africa – Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Africa Data Centres and Distributed Power Africa. The announcement was made during the fifth South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) in support of SA president Cyril Ramaphosa’s initiative to drive investment into the country, Through this investment, Cassava, which has operations in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the USA and Latin America, will continue to bring internationally recognised services and products to South Africa through the group’s renewable energy, cloud & cyber security, data centres and broadband connectivity business units.

“South Africa accounts for the largest proportion of Africa’s industrial GDP with a sophisticated and growing ICT sector. The country’s unique combination of highly

Cassava invests in South Africa

The company has expansion and enhancement plans for three major projects.

developed first-world economic infrastructure and a stable macro-economic environment affords businesses like ours a conducive investment environment in which we can partner with government to drive economic development and create jobs,” said Hardy Pemhiwa, president and Group CEO of Cassava Technologies.

Cassava’s investment pledge comprises key projects, including the expansion of the Liquid Intelligent Technologies fibre network, the extension of Africa Data Centres capacity and footprint, enhanced cloud and cyber security capacity, and the rollout of clean, renewable energy by Distributed Power Africa in South Africa.

South Africa’s US$6.75bn ICT sector represents one of Africa’s most investmentattractive and growth-bound industries today. The world bank estimates that South Africa’s internet penetration rate has doubled over the last decade, standing at 70%. ❮❮

World Bank approves digital and financial inclusion projects

THE BOARD of Directors of the World Bank approved a third Development Policy Financing (DPF) of US$450mn aimed at advancing financial and digital inclusion, adding to the two previous financings. The series of financing projects supported the government of Morocco in implementing reforms to improve financial inclusion, digital entrepreneurship, and access to digital infrastructure and services for individuals and businesses.

44% of Moroccans today have access to a bank account versus 29% in 2017.”

This series has enabled Morocco to significantly move the frontiers of financial and digital inclusion. 44% of Moroccans today have access to a bank account versus 29% in 2017, and 30% use digital payments versus 17% in 2017 (Findex survey). The infrastructure for digital payments has expanded with 31% of rural districts now

covered by mobile payment networks and 19 mobile payment providers operating. The value of digital payments has significantly grown to reach approximately US$195mn in 2021, laying the ground for reforming social protection programs with digital cash transfers. The series has enabled the development of microinsurance, collateral registry and guarantees to support credit to MSMEs. Various actions directly supported women's access to finance and economic empowerment.

For instance, women's participation in the Boards of listed companies has increased from 14.9% in 2019 to nearly 20% by the end of 2022; and women-led 13.5% of tech start-ups have benefitted from an annual foreign currency allocation during the pandemic to import goods and services required by their activities.

This is the third DPF after two previous financings.

Es’hailSat changing the landscape of SATELLITE INDUSTRY

Hamad Al Mannai, vice-president – commercial, discusses the importance of satellite in terrestrial services.

Communications Africa: Satellite is becoming more important as a support for terrestrial services. What sort of cellular backhauling services do you offer?

Hamad Al Mannai: Es’hailSat’s cellular services are delivered over our Es’hail-1 and Es’hail-2 satellites co-located at 25.5°/26° East, and supported on the ground via our state-ofthe-art 50,000 sq m Teleport located in Doha.

Via our cellular backhaul services we can support 3G/4G/5G networks in extending their reach beyond the coverage of fiber and terrestrial services.

Communications Africa: And how can satellite be effective where terrestrial cellular cannot reach?

Hamad Al Mannai: Traditionally satellites have extended the core network for cellular operators to remote and rural areas where terrestrial networks find it difficult to reach or maintain quality of service. Additionally, as the industry evolves, newer business models are emerging where geostationary satellite operators are including non-geostationary satellite systems and direct-to-cell technologies to support cellular networks in extending their reach.

Communications Africa: What is your view of 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN)? Are they relevant to your business model?

Hamad Al Mannai: 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks will complement our existing satellite infrastructure and provide a more efficient way to deliver high-speed data and voice services to remote locations. In addition to supporting IoT and M2M applications, they can also provide reliable means of communication in disaster affected areas. Yes,

they will be relevant to our business model going forward as the applications mentioned above are part of our growing portfolio of services.

Communications Africa: What maritime industries do you serve apart from oil and gas?

Hamad Al Mannai: Apart from Oil and Gas, we also cater to providing communications infrastructure to ships at sea. We have developed specific partnerships over the past few years in order to cater to this growing segment. This includes incorporating the use of flat panel antennas and supporting vessels of all sizes that require data and voice connectivity.

Communications Africa: Is your broadcast market still strong despite streaming?

Hamad Al Mannai: Yes, our broadcast market is still strong as is evident from the growing neighborhood at our 25.5°/26° East hotspot. Our long-standing customers continue to focus on satellite broadcasting even if their services are also available on streaming platforms. Furthermore, we have added multiple channels from across the Middle East and North Africa region to our satellites during the past year which suggests that there is still demand for broadcast television in this region. ❮❮

FWA in Africa: ready? Or not?

Fixed wireless access (FWA) should be ideal for Africa – but so far it has only had a modest impact. Phil Desmond finds out why.

In theory at least, fixed wireless access (FWA) is ideal for Africa. It’s a way to provide wireless internet access to homes or businesses without laying fibre and cables –providing so-called ‘last-mile’ connectivity.

It also takes advantage of mobile networks. According to Ericsson, FWA is a connection that provides primary broadband access through mobile network-enabled customer premises equipment.

Operators like FWA because it allows them to reuse their existing mobile networks. As for end users, small businesses can undoubtedly benefit – as can households that like the idea of video streaming, entertainment services, e-

learning and remote working but can’t get or afford fibre.

In fact Africa doesn’t have much legacy infrastructure, so it’s easy to see how FWA could be a useful alternative to fibre-only networks. It’s true that fibre is rolling out in greater quantities than ever before in Africa (courtesy of companies like Liquid), but deployment can be costly, disruptive and difficult.

Globally, market potential is huge for FWA. Estimates vary, but around 40% of the world’s two billion households are likely to lack a fixed broadband connection – and while FWA is not as high capacity as fibre, it can be deployed

Image Credit: Adobe Stock

more quickly and cheaply and offers acceptable throughput and latency. It could therefore provide an alternative to fixed-line DSL, cable, and fibre across many markets.

4G FWA is an option, but 5G FWA offers much more. That’s because 5G FWA uses standardised 3GPP architectures and common mobile components to deliver ultra-high-speed broadband services to residential subscribers and enterprise customers.

However 5G may use millimetre wave bands that don’t take kindly to interference from trees, snow or rain. Service providers must therefore plan for smaller cell sizes, more cells and increased infrastructure cost per household passed. The more everyday issues of battery theft, equipment damage and zoning approval cycles won’t help either.

4G FWA is an option, but 5G FWA offers much more.

Backhaul is usually fibre and thus is another problem. Where fibre backhaul isn’t available, the only other alternatives are potentially expensive microwave or satellite links.

For now, South Africa is the one big FWA market in Africa, with competition pushing down prices, although still not enough for millions of potential customers. And fibre pricing is becoming more competitive – at least in South Africa, where pre-paid pay-asyou-go services are targeting low-income subscribers.

Will the rest of Africa go for FWA? Nokia, in a recent report, says FWA adoption is estimated to reach 23 million subscribers across MEA by 2027, mainly driven by Southern Africa region countries.

That said, last year Nokia and Safaricom celebrated an African first with their successful trial of 4G/5G FWA network slicing in Kenya’s Western Region. And, more recently, Ericsson and operator Free Senegal signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a proof-of-concept project that aims to provide a digital education ecosystem for schools in Senegal with the help of FWA technology.

But 5G network rollout pace, spectrum availability and refarming, and the marketing and pricing strategies of operators will drive FWA in many areas – and 5G isn’t widely available in Africa. FWA in this region is promising, rather than delivering – for now.

Private networks: the big questions

Private networks are on the way to many countries. Should businesses rush to adopt them rather than miss out on the efficiencies they could offer? Ron Murphy counsels caution.

THE PAST 12 months have seen no shortage of announcements relating to private networks.

Ericsson and operator Telia have launched the Baltic region's first enterprise 5G private network, Ericsson Private 5G. Entel Corp of Chile, meanwhile, has plans to integrate Ericsson’s Private 5G solution within its offering, and partner with communications service providers to deliver it.

Major Indian operator Bharti Airtel and IT services and consulting company Tech

Mahindra hope to deploy India’s first 5Genabled auto manufacturing unit.

Brazilian steel producer Gerdau and Embratel, a player in both voice and data communication, have announced an agreement to roll out a dedicated 5G and LTE private network.

As for Africa, the Ericsson Private 5G solution has been in the news here too; Ericsson has signed a reseller agreement with South African service provider Comsol to provide the solution, which will enable Comsol to expand its enterprise business within South Africa’s

Image Credit: Adobe Stock

mining industry. Meanwhile pan-African operator MTN plans to build private 5G networks for South Africa’s mines and ports.

So what’s the appeal? Control and efficiency, mainly. Private networks give you uninterrupted control of your own dedicated 5G or 4G/LTE communications system. They also promise data usage savings, enhanced traffic flow, better control and greater information security.

Of course, Wi-Fi can do much of this, but any enterprise requiring security, broad coverage, low latency, high mobility and guaranteed quality of service could be attracted to cellular provision, especially now that 4G and 5G are rolling out or available in much of the world.

This is an opportunity for regular operators: they can leverage existing radio expertise and spectrum. Many (like MTN) are setting up divisions to deploy private networks. But the opportunity has attracted new players, such as dedicated private network operators and even enterprise IT departments, working alone or with the help of vendors or service providers.

As for potential end user benefits, a factory, port or mine may benefit from dedicated IoT, edge computing and wireless automation, not just for improved output but for safety. A football stadium may benefit from perfect Wi-Fi and cellular, not just to ensure a good signal but to deliver marketing and information to fans. A hospital may benefit from its own wireless system, not just for alerts for waiting patients, but for the ability to wirelessly track down the right equipment at the right time.

But that also means you need to find the right technology or technologies to deliver your

private network cost-effectively. DAS? Wi-Fi? 4G? 5G? Neutral host for multi-operator support? And will you use dedicated public network spectrum reserved for your business (often called network slicing) a standalone private network using unlicensed or private spectrum or something in-between?

The only obvious advice is not to rush into it. Numerous consultancies (such as Real Wireless, a regular guest in these pages) are advising clients on what is right for their needs. They may be a good starting point.

There’s no doubt a private, secure, totally dedicated network has a lot to offer. There’s also no doubt that you shouldn’t buy what you don’t need.

MTN plans to build private 5G networks for South Africa’s mines and ports.

FAST CONGO’S DRC FIBER HIGHWAY FULLY OPERATIONAL

Fast Congo, the Paratus subsidiary in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has announced that its 620 km fiber optic network link between Muanda and Kinshasa is now active.

Originally installed and funded by the World Bank, the fiber highway will deliver high speed connectivity to the region through the Paratus Group’s pan-African network.

Société Congolaise de Fibre Optique (SOCOF), a DRC Government entity, announced last year that Fast Congo had won the tender to deploy, operating and maintain the link in an exclusive 15-year licence contract. In the time since, Fast Congo installed the necessary infrastructure to connect the network so that it is now live and fully operational.

Speaking at the event, Paratus Group CEO, Schalk Erasmus, said, “This is a major milestone in delivering high quality and high-capacity network services in the DRC. We are uniquely placed to connect the country to Angola and Zambia and beyond through our network in southern Africa.”

EMERSON HIGHLIGHTS DIGITAL SOLUTIONS AT AFRICA AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY FAIR

Emerson, a global automation technology and software leader, and its local business partner in

Africa, Automation Control Solutions (ACS), have showcased the company’s automation portfolio for industrial applications at the Africa Automation Technology Fair in Johannesburg, South Africa.

In line with the exhibition’s theme ‘For Africa from Africa’, the companies featured new technologies and digital solutions aimed at achieving safety, reliability, operational excellence and sustainability for industrial companies.

Acknowledging the ever-changing and highly competitive market in Africa, Mark Tapson, chief operating officer at Automation Control Solutions, said that together ACS and Emerson are offering a comprehensive automation portfolio to tackle their customers’ biggest challenges, including those around operational efficiency and sustainability.

LIQUID INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGIES TO ACCELERATE ZAMBIA’S DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Liquid Intelligent Technologies has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of Zambia to accelerate the country’s digital transformation and provide reliable connectivity to all Zambians.

Liquid Zambia has committed to launching a new data centre that can respond to increasing datahosting needs from local businesses and hyperscalers establishing their presence in the country.

The inauguration of the event was attended by several delegates from the DRC government alongside executives from Global Broadband Solutions (GBS) and Paratus Group.

The agreement builds on Liquid’s investments made since it opened its doors in Zambia in 2011.

Image Credit: Adobe stock

RAXIO GROUP AND MERIDIAM TO ACCELERATE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN AFRICA

Raxio, Roha and Meridiam have announced that they have secured a sustainability-linked debt facility of up to US$170mn in multiple tranches for Raxio Data Centres, a leading pan-African data centre developer and operator.

The financing will enable Raxio to progress with its ambitious roll-out strategy of state-of-the-art, highly reliable and efficient Tier III certified, data centre infrastructure across the continent.

The financing package will support Raxio’s strategy of continuing to build Africa’s digital backbone and support the sustainable growth of Africa’s digital economy. It will also focus on construction, and expansion of existing and new facilities in the region.

It is linked to sustainability as well, and anchored in ESG principles. Raxio said it will promote energy efficiency, responsible water use practices and female empowerment.

MTN DEPLOYS ONE OF THE FIRST 5G STANDALONE CORE IN AFRICA

control plane, user plane, and administration nodes, were completely installed in the South Africa Azure Region for the proof of concept. The project gave MTN the chance to test the advantages of setting up a core network in Azure, such as quick deployment (days as opposed to months) and simplicity of scaling. The lessons inspire a paradigm shift in network design that takes sustainability, business models, automation, and disaster recovery into account. MTN will use the proof of concept to drive further innovation in the cloud domain.

TELKOM AND CLICKATELL PARTNER TO LAUNCH MOBILE MESSAGING PAYMENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Clickatell has launched a Chat 2 Pay feature for South African customers using Telkom services. The feature will be available on WhatsApp, which is the country’s largest messaging platform.

MTN has conducted a proof of concept for a 5G Stand Alone Core fully deployed in Microsoft Azure. All of the 5G Stand Alone Core components, including the

Telkom’s chatbot offers customers mobile support by accessing their accounts and billing information, plus allows them to view sales deals, check for mobile or fibre upgrades, do cancellations, make directory inquiries and more. With the addition of Chat 2 Pay, customers benefit from a convenient and personalised service to pay bills and VAS top-ups via Mastercard and Visa debit and credit cards.

MTN Group is ramping up its rollout of 5G sites targeting a population coverage of 10%-30% in the medium term.

Chat 2 Pay allows customers to pay bills via Mastercard and Visa.

LIQUID C2'S THIRD CYBER SECURITY CENTRE IN ZAMBIA

Liquid C2, a business of Cassava Technologies, a panAfrican technology group, has opened the doors of its Zambian Cyber Security Fusion Centre (CSFC) in Lusaka, making this the third centre of its kind in Africa.

“Zambia's ongoing digital transformation has seen businesses increase their online service adoption to serve the growing cyber-population, meaning Zambian businesses are becoming increasingly high-risk targets for cyber attacks. Our Cyber Security Fusion Centre will provide businesses with timeous responses to mitigate these attacks successfully, ensuring that their business is prepared to face current and even future threats,” said David Behr, CEO of Liquid C2.

“Launching Liquid C2's third Cyber Security Fusion Centre in Zambia is critical in safeguarding the country's digital economy. Adding the Cyber Security Fusion Centre to the country's cyber security infrastructure will strengthen our ability to protect vital small businesses from increasing cybercrime threats, as it focuses on bolstering the growth of the small businesses sector. The centre will offer comprehensive cyber security services, including

threat intelligence, detection, and incident response, customised to meet the requirements of businesses in Zambia,” stated Mark Townsend, CEO of Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Zambia.

FREE IN-TAXI WI-FI SERVICE FOR SA COMMUTERS

Telematics company Netstar, a subsidiary of Altron, in partnership with Vodacom Business, is empowering taxi commuters across South Africa through the use of a free in-taxi connectivity service, WiTaxi.

“South Africa’s taxi industry is responsible for more than 60% of daily commutes, making it an integral part of the country’s transport sector and a significant economic player,” commented Netstar group managing director, Grant Fraser.

“We are truly excited about this partnership with WiTaxi and Vodacom and believe that the connected commute is going to be a game changer for South African taxi passengers, drivers and even operators.”

Assitant Editor: Shivani Dhruvshivani.dhruv@alaincharles.com

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Communications Africa/Afrique is a bi-monthly magazine

ISSN: 0962 3841

The Zambian CSFC is the third in the matrix of security centres to be launched by Liquid C2 in Africa.