Telecom and internet outages highlight just how dependent modern life is on uninterrupted digital connectivity. From GPS to mobile banking to emergency services, critical operations falter when networks fail. In response, Vodafone has accelerated its Enhanced Power initiative, a comprehensive programme designed to strengthen network resilience, extend power backup, and maintain vital connectivity for emergency and critical online services across Europe and Africa

Boosting AI and backup power

The increasing frequency of climate-related disasters and grid instability underscores the urgent need for resilient communications infrastructure for emergency services. Power outages caused by floods, wildfires, earthquakes, or blackouts can affect local, regional, or national areas. Though prolonged outages remain rare in Europe, last summer’s extreme weather alone is expected to cost the EU economy €126 billion by 2029.

The Enhanced Power initiative was fast-tracked following a major blackout in April 2025, which disrupted essential services including telecoms, transportation, and banking in Portugal and parts of Spain and France. At the outage’s peak, about 60% of Portuguese mobile users experienced connectivity loss or difficulties.

Vodafone’s programme aims to strengthen more than 10,000 critical mobile infrastructure sites supporting emergency services across Europe, beginning with Portugal and rolling out across Vodafone’s European markets over the next two years. The initiative combines existing temporary backup systems with AI-powered software to predict, control, and optimise backup power. Solutions are designed to handle outages depending on severity and scale, while also reducing CO2 emissions.

Local, regional, and national response capabilities

For localised outages affecting up to ten mobile sites, Vodafone will continue to deploy portable solutions such as Cells on Wheels (COW), complemented by the Instant Network Emergency Response (INER) programme. INER, active since 2012, provides free Wi-Fi and phone charging stations during disaster relief efforts and has supported 28 disasters worldwide, most recently Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica.

For larger regional outages impacting dozens or hundreds of sites, Vodafone deploys temporary and backup units alongside its AI-controlled Adaptive Power Backup system, which remotely extends base station battery duration, potentially doubling backup times.

Vodafone has also developed contingency plans for national or cross-border blackouts. Over 10,000 essential radio and backhaul access sites across Europe, including hospitals, government offices, airports, and transport hubs, will be equipped with at least four hours of backup power, while core mobile sites (over 400 data centres and backbone facilities) are guaranteed 72 hours of power or diesel generator refuelling within 48 hours. Aggregation sites, critical for routing customer data, are ensured a minimum of four hours’ backup.

Vodafone is exploring further resilience options by connecting emergency responders’ smartphones and other cellular devices via satellite even in extreme conditions.

AI to the rescue

Vodafone has launched its AI-driven Adaptive Power Backup service in Greece, with trials ongoing in Turkey before broader deployment in 2026. The system predicts outages and optimises energy usage, nearly doubling backup duration and keeping emergency services connected three times longer than industry standards. Non-essential equipment is remotely powered down or placed in low-energy “cell sleep mode,” while crucial communication channels remain operational.

AI adoption also reduces the capital needed for additional backup batteries, which would otherwise divert resources from network upgrades. Ofcom estimates that mandating four-hour backup at all UK telecom sites would require £2.2–4.4 billion (€2.6–5.2 billion), with similar costs expected across Europe. Vodafone is exploring collaboration with other operators and electricity providers, pooling resources to participate in electricity markets and using Virtual Power Plant services, enabling revenue generation from idle capacity. Government incentives are needed to drive wider adoption.

Africa focus

Vodacom, Vodafone’s African business, leverages AI to address challenges posed by frequent load-shedding. Its AI-on-the-edge solution prioritises energy sources, reduces diesel runtime, and ensures base stations operate on the most cost-efficient energy source without compromising availability. Initial results show a 10% – 15% reduction in diesel use, lower operational costs, fewer site visits, and improved customer experience.

Aligned with European frameworks

Vodafone’s resilience programme aligns with EU cybersecurity and infrastructure protection frameworks. Vodafone seeks to collaborate with Brussels and national authorities to ensure compliance, speed implementation, and explore co-funding opportunities. Operators alone cannot shoulder the burden, government support through funding and policy alignment is critical to sustain and expand infrastructure, ensuring Europe’s digital and telecom sectors remain resilient during major outages.

Cementir Group has expanded its global decarbonisation efforts with the introduction of two lower-carbon white cement products under its D-Carb range

Produced in Egypt by Sinai White Cement Company, the new variants are now available across Middle East and Africa (MEA) markets.

The offerings include a Limestone Portland cement that meets CEM II/A-LL 52.5N EN197-1 requirements with an approximate 10% clinker reduction, and a CEM II/B-LL 42.5N option featuring around 20% clinker reduction when compared to the widely used Aalborg White CEM I 52.5R.

Designed to support industrial users in accelerating their decarbonisation pathways, the launch provides MEA customers with a practical shift toward lower-carbon construction materials without affecting performance, production efficiency or aesthetic outcomes.

“In 2024 and early 2025, we progressively introduced D-Carb products across Europe and APAC region, including Australia, where we have received positive feedback from diverse industry segments. We are pleased to see D-Carb enabling customers to meeting emerging low carbon requirements in building and urban infrastructure projects, while continuing to deliver the high performance and architecture aesthetics expected of white cement.” said Michele Di Marino, chief sales, marketing and commercial development officer of Cementir Group.

“Today, extending this portfolio to MEA with two tailored variants represents an important milestone in Cementir’s journey toward net-zero emissions by 2050. As the building and construction sectors worldwide increasingly prioritize decarbonization, these products reinforce our commitment to low-carbon solutions aligned with regional decarbonization targets.”

Stefano Zampaletta, Group Product and Solution Manager at Cementir Group, added, “The introduction of the two D-Carb® variants in MEA highlights our understanding of the diverse application requirements for lower-carbon materials in the region. Achieving reduced carbon footprints while maintaining the good standard of performance expected of white cement is a complex challenge, but these products demonstrate our capability to deliver both, supporting a shared ambition for sustainable construction across entire value chain.”

“MEA markets are rapidly embracing sustainability, and the arrival of D-Carb® positions us to lead this transition. By combining lower carbon emissions with the performance expected of white cement, we are setting a new benchmark and opening new opportunities for responsible construction in the region,” concluded Abdel Hamid Gadou, commercial director of Sinai White Cement. 

One of the world’s largest mining and infrastructure ventures marked a milestone this week with the start of operations at Simandou in Guinea

The major project partners from the Chinese-led scheme, including WCS, Baowu, Chinalco as well as Rio Tinto, took part in a ceremony at the port in Forécariah prefecture to celebrate the launch of what is Africa’s largest greenfield integrated mine and infrastructure project.

WCS is a consortium between Winning International Group and Weiqiao Aluminium (part of the China Hongqiao Group) and United Mining Suppliers (collectively 51%) and Baowu Resources (49%).

“This milestone reflects years of hard work and strong partnership,” said Winning Consortium chairman Sun Xiushun. “Winning Consortium is proud to have delivered on our commitment and to stand with our partners in bringing Simandou into operation.”

The project is delivering more than 600 kilometres of new multi-use trans-Guinean rail together with barge and transhipment vessel port facilities.

Following commissioning and ramp up, this infrastructure will support the export of a combined total of up to 120 million tonnes per year of mined iron ore by SimFer and WCS from their respective Simandou mining concessions in the southeast of the country.

The Simfer joint venture comprises Simfer S.A., the holder of Simandou South Blocks 3 & 4, which is owned by the government (15%) and Simfer Jersey Limited (85%) — itself a joint venture between Rio Tinto and Chalco Iron Ore Holdings.

Chalco Iron Ore Holdings is a Chinalco-led joint venture of leading Chinese state-owned enterprises, including Chinalco, Baowu, China Rail Construction Corporation and China Harbour Engineering Company.

“The start of operations of the Simandou project is an important achievement guided by the consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries, noted Chinalco’s president Wang Shilei.

“It reflects the joint efforts and pragmatic cooperation between China and Guinea, contributing to Guinea’s industrialisation and modernisation process.”

Shilei added that Chinalco is committed to working together with all partners to “fully implement the outcomes of the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing, advance the high-quality development of the Simandou iron ore project, take concrete actions to deliver on the Belt and Road Initiative, and promote the continued deepening of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Guinea.”

Testing and commissioning of the mine, rail and barge port system infrastructure is now underway, with both WCS and SimFer having commenced the transport of iron ore from mine gate to the port via the trans-Guinean rail line.

Once commissioned, all co-developed infrastructure and rolling stock will be transferred to and operated by the Compagnie du TransGuinéen (CTG), in which Simfer and WCS each hold a 42.5% equity stake, with the government holding the remaining 15%.

Rio Tinto’s CEO Simon Trott said the achievement has been made possible through the hard work of thousands of colleagues, and the complementary strengths and expertise of the company and its various partners.

“Today we are unlocking an exceptional new source of high-grade iron ore that is in demand from customers for low-carbon steel making, enhancing our world-class portfolio of iron ore mines in the Pilbara and Canada.”

Hu Wangming, chairman of China Baowu Group, added that the start of operations marks a “milestone” in the history of the global mining industry.

“Throughout the development process, all parties have maintained a broad perspective and a long-term vision, adhering to the principles of market orientation, rule of law, and internationalisation, ensuring the project’s advancement with high standards and high quality,” Wangming said.

“The stable supply of Simandou’s premium iron ore resources will provide a solid foundation of low carbon raw materials for the development of China’s steel industry and the global steel sector.”

Djiba Diakité, Minister and Chief of Staff to the President and chairman of the Simandou 2040 Strategic Committee, hailed the project as a “driving force” behind national transformation.

“This collective success reflects the vision of the head of state and the determination of an entire nation to build a future of shared prosperity. This inauguration marks a foundational milestone for Guinea, which now stands as a key player in sustainable development and economic sovereignty in West Africa.”

Read more:

First CTG locomotives arrive for Simandou project

XCMG Machinery invests in Africa talent pool

Wabtec nets US$248mn order for TransGuinéen rail locomotives

Freightos, the global leader in digital freight booking and payments, has expanded its reach in East Africa through a new partnership with Jambojet Cargo, Kenya's leading regional airline cargo operator

Jambojet Cargo is now live on the WebCargo by Freightos platform, allowing freight forwarders to book cargo capacity digitally across the airline's extensive East African network.

With this integration, WebCargo users gain immediate digital access to Jambojet Cargo services across nine major routes that link key commercial hubs in Kenya and Tanzania. Operating from its main base in Nairobi, Jambojet connects to Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Malindi, Diani, Lamu and Zanzibar. In the future, the airline's capacity will also be made available for interlining agreements. Jambojet Cargo handles a wide variety of shipments including fresh produce, pharmaceuticals and e-commerce goods, supporting regional supply chains and cross border trade.

By joining WebCargo by Freightos, freight forwarders can now compare real time rates, confirm bookings instantly and manage their cargo online. This improves visibility, reduces manual processes and helps ensure a faster and more reliable service experience. Freightos currently handles an annualized run rate of more than 1.6 million transactions on its platform.

"Partnering with Jambojet Cargo expands WebCargo by Freightos' reach in one of Africa's most dynamic logistics markets," said Zvi Schreiber, CEO of Freightos.

"By bringing more regional carriers online, we're continuing Freightos' mission to make global trade smoother and more efficient helping forwarders and shippers access the capacity they need, when they need it and where they need it."

"Digitalization is reshaping air cargo across Africa, and Jambojet is proud to be at the forefront of this change, providing our customers with a modern and easy to use booking experience," said Karanja Ndegwa, managing director and CEO at Jambojet.

"By joining WebCargo by Freightos, we're giving freight forwarders faster, smoother, and more reliable access to our network supporting the region's expanding trade and connectivity. Looking ahead, we're excited to make our capacity available for interlining on WebCargo by Freightos' platform, helping strengthen links between African markets and the world."

Paycorp, a global payments group with strong South African roots, has made a strategic investment in Currency Stream, a UK-based fintech that specialises in real-time foreign exchange and multi-currency payment solutions

This partnership is set to accelerate Currency Stream’s growth in Europe and open up new expansion opportunities across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Paycorp will contribute capital, international reach, and over 20 years of payments expertise to help drive Currency Stream’s global ambitions.

The investment builds on a successful working relationship that spans over seven years. Since 2017, Paycorp has implemented Currency Stream’s Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) technology across Central and Eastern Europe and Southern Africa.

“This partnership is a natural evolution of our long-standing relationship with Currency Stream,” said Steven Kark, CEO and co-founder of Paycorp, who will be joining the Currency Stream International board. “They’ve consistently delivered results with robust tech, transparency, and smart thinking. As they expand globally, it makes perfect sense for Paycorp to back that growth and take this offering deeper into markets like Africa, Asia and the US.”

Currency Stream’s proprietary technology supports real-time DCC and Multi-Currency Pricing (MCP) in over 160 currencies. Already trusted by top acquirers, gateways, and e-commerce platforms worldwide, the company’s solutions will now be brought to new sectors and high-growth regions. The focus will be on retail, travel, and online commerce — markets where FX transparency and multi-currency functionality are increasingly vital.

“This investment cements a powerful partnership built on innovation and trust,” said Noel Goddard, founder and CEO of Currency Stream. “Paycorp understands the complexities of cross-border payments and has the scale, experience and strategic focus to help us serve more partners faster, particularly across Africa and other emerging markets.”

This move aligns with Paycorp’s wider strategy of expanding its portfolio of value-added payment solutions. With operations in Southern Africa, Eastern Europe, and the UK, Paycorp is already recognised for its services in ATM and cash operations, transaction processing, embedded business funding, and alternative payments.

FLS has completed a significant upgrade to its polyurethane manufacturing facility in Delmas, Mpumalanga, positioning the site as a key global hub for the production of its advanced NexGen wear-resistant material

This development forms part of a wider modernisation programme by FLS, aimed at strengthening supply chains, increasing manufacturing efficiency and enhancing
sustainability across its global footprint.

Brad Shepherd, director service line - screen and feeder consumables at FLS, said the investment at Delmas aligns with the company’s global strategy to standardise and optimise production processes.

“This is a milestone for us,” commented Shepherd. “We are integrating cutting edge technology and modern manufacturing methodologies across all our polyurethane plants, and Delmas is leading the way. The upgrade enables us to respond more quickly and reliably to customer needs across Africa, the Middle East and Europe.”

The centrepiece of the upgrade is the introduction of purpose-built infrastructure to produce NexGen screen media - a polyurethane material developed by FLS to deliver extended wear life, reduced maintenance and improved operational efficiency. In on-site trials, screen panels made from NexGen have demonstrated up to three times the wear life of conventional rubber and polyurethane products, making it a gamechanger for industries that rely on high performance screening solutions.

Warren Walker, head of global manufacturing - polyurethane operations at FLS, explained that Delmas is the first of the company’s five global polyurethane plants to complete this transition. “We have installed new, latest generation polyurethane machines, precision tooling and dedicated preheating ovens for inserts,” he said. “This allows us to significantly increase our output while ensuring consistent quality.”

The facility now includes two trommel screen media stations and three screen media stations, each tailored to produce NexGen products. One of the standout technologies introduced is a programmable auto- calibrating polyurethane machine capable of adjusting material hardness to suit
specific applications.

“The flexibility to produce varying hardness levels is critical,” Walker noted. “It means we can tailor our screen media precisely to the customer’s application, ensuring optimum performance and longevity.”

To complement this, a high capacity polyurethane machine capable of pouring up to 42 kg per minute is in operation at the facility. This system is particularly suited to applications requiring large volume pours, such as flotation spare parts and vertical mill components.

The Delmas facility already benefited from a significant upgrade in 2019, when a state-of-the-art six-axis machining centre was introduced for tooling precision, along with robotic welding systems for manufacturing screen media panel inserts and a CNC controlled spiral welding machine to produce wedge wire products. The latest round of investments builds on this foundation and brings the facility to the forefront of global polyurethane production capability.

Energy efficiency was a key consideration in the new layout and equipment design. “We have incorporated smart energy saving features like individual temperature control on each casting table station,” Walker remarked. “This avoids the need to heat large surface areas unnecessarily and contributes to our carbon reduction goals.”

Further supporting these goals is the installation of 300 kW of solar generation capacity at the Delmas site, completed in 2024. Plans are already in place to expand this by another 500 kW in 2026, along with the integration of a battery energy storage system (BESS), enabling greater energy independence and resilience.

FLS’s offering from Delmas extends beyond screen media manufacturing. The facility is equipped to handle the complete fabrication of vibrating screens, from raw material processing and in-house machining to assembly and factory acceptance testing. This vertical integration allows the company to deliver customised solutions with tighter control over quality and lead times.

Shepherd emphasises that FLS operates both as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and a screen media specialist, supplying screen panels for all types and brands of vibrating screens, feeders and trommel screens.

“We don’t just supply products,” he said. “We work closely with our customers through our network of on-the-ground specialists to assess site conditions and select the best screening media for their specific needs.”

He notes that many older processing plants are treating materials that differ from their original design specifications. In these cases, screen efficiency can often only be improved by optimising the screen media. “This is where NexGen makes a real difference,” Shepherd commented. “Combined with the correct aperture design, it allows customers to get more life and better performance from their screens.”

Unlike injection-moulded polyurethane, which can compromise the structural integrity of screen panels, FLS’s proprietary process retains superior mechanical properties, resulting in a tougher more durable product. “We have never used injection moulding because it reduces the quality of the end product,” Shepherd explained. “Our process delivers a product that stands up to the toughest operating conditions and offers lasting value.”

Walker adds that the expansion at Delmas not only supports FLS’s global operations but also contributes meaningfully to the South African economy. “Our commitment to local manufacturing is evident in the scale of our investment and the jobs we have created,” he said. “We have expanded our workforce, prioritised local recruitment and significantly grown our apprenticeship programme.”

A strong focus has also been placed on developing female artisans. In 2024, six women from the local community were recruited into a three year trade apprenticeship programme, receiving training in welding, fitting and boilermaking.

“Our investment during a period of economic uncertainty underlines FLS’s long term commitment to South Africa and to our customers in the broader EMEA region,” said Walker. “We are not just building products – we are building skills, opportunities and partnerships that will power sustainable growth for years to come.”