Technology

LINX Mombasa boosts African connectivity

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LINX expands in Kenya with a new IXP in Mombasa, enhancing interconnection, reducing latency, and supporting digital growth in Africa. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The London Internet Exchange (LINX) has officially launched LINX Mombasa, a new interconnection hub designed to enhance digital connectivity in Africa

Located within iColo’s MBA1 and MBA2 data centres, LINX Mombasa is a multi-site, interconnected Internet Exchange Point (IXP). It provides a resilient, future-ready platform for networks to exchange traffic efficiently, reducing latency and improving overall performance. This peering model ensures data remains closer to end users, offering greater control and reliability.

Strengthening Africa’s digital infrastructure

Mombasa is experiencing rapid interconnection growth and is among Africa’s most globally connected locations. The city is linked to seven submarine cables that connect Kenya to Africa’s coastline, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.

Following the successful launch of LINX Nairobi, this expansion marks LINX’s continued commitment to supporting African digital ecosystems. LINX Mombasa will serve both content delivery networks and local ISPs, offering an alternative interconnection point with added services on a robust and redundant network.

Nurani Nimpuno, LINX head of global engagement, stated, "We are thrilled to be extending our synergies with iColo with whom we have had a successful journey at LINX Nairobi. We were seeing a demand for LINX services in Mombasa when we came to Kenya, and I am very pleased we can now start delivering the same value here.”

LINX is the first IXP to establish a presence in both Nairobi and Mombasa. Its technical infrastructure mirrors that of LINX Nairobi, incorporating Nokia switches for seamless connectivity.

Ranjith Cherickel, founder & CEO of iColo, added, "We are delighted to host LINX Mombasa at our highly connected data centre facilities; MBA1 and MBA2. This collaboration underscores our commitment to providing best-in-class infrastructure and services that drive digital transformation in Africa. The new IXP will create significant opportunities for partnerships, innovation, and growth in the region.”

With the addition of LINX Mombasa, peering traffic in the region is set to rise, reinforcing Mombasa’s status as the Gateway to East Africa.

Also read: Zambia’s digital economy creates youth opportunities

Is LINX Mombasa Africa’s next digital hub?

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LINX is the first IXP to establish a presence in both Nairobi and Mombasa. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The London Internet Exchange (LINX) has officially launched LINX Mombasa, a new interconnection hub aimed at strengthening digital connectivity across Africa.

Situated within iColo’s MBA1 and MBA2 data centres, LINX Mombasa operates as a multi-site, interconnected Internet Exchange Point (IXP). This resilient, future-ready platform allows networks to exchange traffic efficiently, reducing latency and enhancing overall performance. By keeping data closer to end users, this peering model ensures greater reliability and control.

Advancing Africa’s Digital Infrastructure

Mombasa is rapidly emerging as a key interconnection hub and one of Africa’s most globally connected locations. The city benefits from seven submarine cables linking Kenya to Africa’s coastline, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.

Following the success of LINX Nairobi, this expansion reinforces LINX’s commitment to enhancing African digital ecosystems. LINX Mombasa will serve both content delivery networks and local ISPs, providing an alternative interconnection point with redundant and high-performance network services.

Nurani Nimpuno, LINX’s head of global engagement, stated, “We are thrilled to deepen our collaboration with iColo, following our success with LINX Nairobi. The demand for LINX services in Mombasa was evident, and we are excited to bring the same value to this growing market.”

As the first IXP with a presence in both Nairobi and Mombasa, LINX ensures seamless connectivity by leveraging Nokia switch technology, mirroring the infrastructure of LINX Nairobi.

Ranjith Cherickel, founder & CEO of iColo, added, “We are proud to host LINX Mombasa in our highly connected data centre facilities. This collaboration highlights our commitment to world-class infrastructure, fostering partnerships, innovation, and digital transformation in Africa.”

With LINX Mombasa now live, regional peering traffic is expected to increase significantly, further cementing Mombasa’s role as the Gateway to East Africa.

How is AI changing Africa’s cybersecurity?

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AI-driven cyberattacks, including phishing and DDoS strikes, are evolving across Africa, requiring proactive security measures and awareness. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

As Africa advances in its digital transformation, cybercriminals are evolving in sophistication, leveraging AI to execute more strategic and effective attacks, including distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) strikes

Bryan Hamman, regional director for Africa at NETSCOUT, highlighted, “We're witnessing AI not just as a defence mechanism but also as a potential threat amplifier. The adoption of machine learning allows adversaries to automate reconnaissance and tailor attacks at extraordinary scale.”

AI: Shield or sword?

Across many African nations, the rapid pace of digital adoption is outstripping cybersecurity developments, leaving businesses, governments, and individuals increasingly vulnerable. Hamman warns that without proactive security measures, local organisations face AI-driven threats such as malware bypassing traditional defences, hyper-personalised phishing campaigns, and significantly reduced response windows.

"AI can be a double-edged sword, and African businesses must ensure they leverage its benefits for better protection, while steering clear of the darker side of AI by staying a step ahead of attackers," he advises. Generative AI (GenAI) is amplifying cyberthreats in several ways, including:

Enhanced social engineering:

Creating more realistic and unique phishing emails.
Mimicking voices in audio messages to deceive targets.

Image and video manipulation:

Deepfake images are capable of bypassing biometric facial recognition when executed correctly.

Scaling cyberattacks:

AI automation enables cybercriminals to expand their attack scope with greater efficiency.
Automated phishing campaigns can target more individuals within an organisation, increasing the likelihood of infiltration.

Additionally, AI-driven DDoS attacks are becoming more sophisticated, with threat actors using AI to refine botnet behaviour and optimise target selection, making these attacks more damaging and harder to mitigate.

NETSCOUT urges organisations to remain vigilant by investing in AI-powered security solutions and promoting cybersecurity awareness through continuous training. "The key lies in not just reacting to threats, but pre-empting them," Hamman concluded. “As African markets grow, robust, AI-driven cybersecurity strategies will become increasingly crucial to ensuring that digital innovation is secure and sustainable.”

Kaspersky enhances cloud workload security for containers

Kaspersky enhances Cloud Workload Security with advanced forensic tools, runtime protection, and orchestrator security for large-scale container deployments. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Kaspersky has rolled out a significant update to its Cloud Workload Security solution, introducing advanced security and monitoring capabilities tailored for containerised environments

This latest version strengthens forensic analysis, enhances runtime and orchestrator security, and is designed to support organisations managing large-scale container deployments.

A joint study by Kaspersky and ISG, titled “Alleviating Cloud Migration Difficulties with Robust Hybrid-Cloud and Container Security”, highlights the increasing adoption of cloud-native technologies. According to the findings, 78% of businesses are already leveraging these solutions, with 43% planning to expand their usage in the next two years. However, security remains a concern, as 60% of surveyed organisations struggle with continuous vulnerability scanning, leaving potential blind spots.

To address these challenges, Kaspersky has reinforced its Cloud Workload Security (CWS) solution with improved forensic capabilities, offering deeper insights into system events. These enhancements help security teams quickly identify risks, trace attack sources, and monitor subsequent events. The update also expands file operation monitoring during runtime, allowing organisations to track actions such as file creation, modification, and access—boosting overall security visibility.

Enhanced orchestrator security

Another major improvement is the orchestrator security analysis feature, which provides a detailed view of security issues across clusters and orchestrators. This enhancement covers key areas such as access control, networking, workload security, orchestrator configurations, and secret management. Additionally, the update introduces file threat protection for orchestrator nodes, further securing critical infrastructure.

Kaspersky CWS now also supports automatic container profiling for runtime, helping businesses detect abnormal behaviour across containers, groups, and clusters. This simplifies policy creation and strengthens security. Scalability has also been improved, allowing deployments to span several thousand nodes—ideal for large enterprises with complex container environments.

Furthermore, the update introduces a Light Agent for Windows within Kaspersky Hybrid Cloud Security (KHCS). This enables Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Windows (KESW) to function in Light Agent mode, ensuring feature parity with standard KESW agents and improving hybrid cloud protection.

"As businesses continue to accelerate their adoption of cloud-native technologies, they face growing challenges in securing complex cloud environments. Threat detection, forensic analysis, and runtime security must evolve to keep pace with modern cyber risks. With this update, Kaspersky Cloud Workload Security strengthens protection, providing deeper visibility, enhanced threat detection, and greater scalability. Our goal is to empower organisations with the tools they need to confidently secure their cloud infrastructure while maintaining efficiency and compliance in an increasingly dynamic digital landscape," concluded Anton Rusakov-Rudenko, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Cloud & Network Security Product Line at Kaspersky.

Also read: https://africanreview.com/ict/lagos-huawei-advance-smart-transport-systems

Lagos, Huawei advance smart transport systems

ITS sites will optimise traffic flow and alleviate congestion using advanced monitoring tools and AI-powered traffic solutions. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Lagos State has collaborated with Huawei Technologies to establish four new Intelligent Transport System (ITS) sites at key locations, aiming to enhance traffic management and road safety

These ITS sites will optimise traffic flow and alleviate congestion using advanced monitoring tools and AI-powered traffic solutions.

According to Nairametrics, the initiative will improve road safety for both commuters and pedestrians through the deployment of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and Traffic Management Solution (TMS) devices.

This development aligns with Lagos' broader smart city vision, utilising cutting-edge technology to enhance urban mobility and ease traffic congestion.

By providing real-time traffic updates, the ITS deployment is set to benefit daily commuters by enabling better route planning and reducing travel time.

Smart traffic innovation

Logistics firms will experience more predictable transit schedules, increasing operational efficiency and cutting costs. Businesses, in turn, will benefit from improved delivery punctuality and enhanced employee commute reliability, boosting productivity.

Huawei's involvement in this initiative is part of its wider strategy to expand its footprint in Nigeria’s technology and infrastructure sectors.

In August 2024, Huawei Nigeria Digital Power unveiled its latest innovation in the commercial and industrial (C&I) solar market—the 150K series inverter. This cutting-edge solution is designed to enhance business energy efficiency by providing reliable and sustainable power options.

Previously, in 2022, Huawei partnered with the Lagos State government to build a high-speed wireless government campus network using its AirEngine Wi-Fi 6 technology. This improved operational efficiency and facilitated Lagos' digital transformation.

Huawei has also introduced a local cloud service in Nigeria, reducing data latency and ensuring compliance with data protection laws. This move offers Nigerian businesses faster and more reliable cloud access, benefiting startups and SMEs that rely on cloud-based solutions.

These initiatives emphasise Huawei's commitment to Nigeria’s digital transformation and infrastructure growth. The company's expanding presence highlights its role in driving technological advancement and improving public services.

The collaboration between Lagos State and Huawei in deploying Intelligent Transport Systems represents a major milestone in the city’s smart city journey. Through advanced technologies, Lagos seeks to create a more efficient, secure, and sustainable urban environment for residents and businesses alike.