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CSquared announces major fiber expansion across West Africa, boosting digital access, regional connectivity, and economic inclusion

CSquared, a pan-African technology company dedicated to digitally connecting Africa through open-access, carrier-neutral broadband infrastructure, has announced a major milestone with the significant expansion of its West African fibre network

This transformative initiative aims to bridge digital divides between coastal and landlocked nations while fuelling economic growth across the region.

Expanding on its active operations across the continent, CSquared is furthering its mission to create a more inclusive and interconnected Africa through the development of a strategic terrestrial backbone in West Africa. The most recent addition, a cross-border solution from Abidjan to Monrovia, complements existing infrastructure from Accra to Lagos. Fully integrated, this critical network links coastal and landlocked countries across ECOWAS and extends northward via Burkina Faso.

With plans to interconnect countries including Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Mali, Guinea, Senegal, and Niger, this West African digital superhighway offers a high-capacity, high-availability alternative to the current dependence on single points of failure from undersea cable networks.

“This backbone represents more than just fibre; it’s about building a stronger digital foundation for West Africa’s future,” said Ian Paterson, CEO of CSquared. “By improving regional connectivity and integrating with subsea capacity, we are delivering the infrastructure that governments, operators, and communities need to thrive in a digital-first world.”

“Our vision is a Digitally Connected Africa, where every country, city, and community can participate in the global digital economy and this West African super highway brings us one step closer to that reality. We invite both existing and new partners across the ecosystem to join us in unlocking new opportunities for innovation and growth,” added Paterson.

As the landing partner for Equiano in Togo, CSquared plays a key role in extending next-generation subsea capacity inland, offering alternative low-latency routes to the global internet, particularly vital for landlocked nations that currently lack dependable cross-border connectivity.

The network leverages modern, open optical technologies built to international standards, offering multiple integration points into global and regional networks, data centres, and landing stations. Its open-access model enables governments, service providers, enterprises, and communities to connect across borders, collaborate, and grow via affordable, scalable, and reliable broadband that supports national development goals and cross-border commerce.

“As Africa’s only truly open access wholesale provider, CSquared delivers carrier neutral fibre networks engineered for scalability, low latency, and high reliability, empowering operators to expand coverage, lower costs, and drive digital inclusion,” said Samuel Owusu Yeboah, CSquared’s chief technology officer.

The announcement comes in the lead-up to the Africa Peering and Interconnection Forum (AfPIF) in Lagos, where CSquared will highlight this new regional route and its growing impact on enabling low latency peering and enhancing data sovereignty across the continent. For CSquared, the West African superhighway marks a crucial step toward a future where no country or community is excluded from the digital revolution.

 

Investing in Africa's tech talent (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Global IT professional association ISACA and Nigeria’s INGRYD Academy have teamed up on a project that aims to train 10,000 aspiring tech professionals in the West African country

The five-year initiative hopes to nurture Nigeria’s digital talent pipeline and close cybersecurity workforce gaps.

It will provide support for those pursuing careers advancing trust in technology, including cybersecurity, emerging technologies and IT audit.

“Empowering the next generation as they embark on their tech career journeys not only ensures the strength of our global IT and cybersecurity workforce but also builds tech and cyber capability — a critical enabler of economic growth and overall societal prosperity through the safer adoption of digital technologies,” said Chris Dimitriadis, ISACA chief global strategy officer.

“We are excited about our partnership with INGRYD Academy, and we applaud its efforts to open new learning pathways for students and work towards a safer digital world.”

Designed to support Nigeria’s national workforce development goals and meet Africa’s growing demand for digital skills, the five-year partnership will equip 10,000 aspiring tech professionals with in-demand training and access to ISACA’s global professional community.

Each year, 2,000 INGRYD Academy students will receive several Fundamentals courses from ISACA, a one-year ISACA student membership, and networking and mentorship opportunities through ISACA’s global chapters, as well as workshops, conferences, and other events with INGRYD staff and ISACA members where they can share ideas, knowledge and best practices.

“This partnership marks a transformative step in our mission to close the digital skills gap in Africa,” said HRM Khadijat Abdulkadir, CEO, Ingryd Academy.

“By equipping 40,000 learners with globally recognised training, we’re enabling long-term career mobility. We’re not just creating tech talent—we’re building a generation of problem-solvers and digital leaders. That’s the kind of impact that moves nations forward.”

Africa’s digital economy is projected to reach US$180bn by 2025, according to a report from IFC and Google, yet the region faces a critical shortage of trained professionals to meet growing demand.

Nigeria, with more than 100 million internet users and a fast-growing tech sector, is well positioned to lead — but continues to experience gaps in cybersecurity capacity and workforce readiness.

This collaboration helps address that need at scale, said Gustavo Frega, senior academic strategy and business partnership manager, ISACA.

“The collaboration between ISACA and INGRYD Academy represents a powerful driver of opportunity and change,” said Frega.

“By providing Nigerian students with globally recognised credentials and connecting them to ISACA’s community, INGRYD Academy is opening doors to new careers and empowering the younger generations to contribute to sustainable growth and innovation across the region.”

Read more:

Nokia to power Medusa subsea cable linking three seas

Swansea project boosts African battery innovation

Sedna Africa deploys private mobile network at Beira port

Nokia teams up with AFR-IX Telecom to deliver high-speed digital connectivity via Medusa subsea cable system

Nokia has announced its role in powering the Medusa submarine cable system, a large-scale infrastructure project owned by AFR-IX Telecom

The new subsea fibre-optic network will link the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Red Sea—creating a high-capacity digital corridor that is set to enhance connectivity, spark innovation, and drive economic progress across the connected regions.

The Medusa subsea system aims to reduce the digital divide between Europe and North Africa by offering high-capacity fibre connectivity to countries including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. Built as an open-access cable network, Medusa will allow regional telecom operators to access advanced data services, supporting the expansion of 5G networks, the rise of cloud-based systems, and growing bandwidth needs driven by artificial intelligence and next-generation technologies.

Using Nokia’s 1830 GX Series platform and its advanced ICE7 coherent optics, the system will deliver tens of terabits per second per fibre pair—ensuring high-speed, low-latency connectivity with efficient performance in both cost and power usage.

“Medusa is laying the groundwork for a more connected and inclusive digital future. With Nokia’s subsea optical solution, we will be able to deliver greater value to our customers by offering faster, more reliable connectivity at a lower cost, with the flexibility to scale as needs evolve. This partnership ensures we meet the demands of today while building a strong, future-ready infrastructure for tomorrow,” said Miguel Angel Acero, chief technical officer and founder of Medusa.

“Medusa is helping to deliver new, faster and more reliable connectivity to millions of people, opening the door to greater innovation and deeper integration into the global digital economy. At Nokia, we’re proud to support this transformative project, bridging continents and enabling the future of an AI-driven society,” said John Harrington, senior vice-president & head of NI Europe, MEA & APAC Sales at Nokia.

Swansea University-led StamiNa initiative secures funding to develop sodium-ion batteries for e-mobility. (Image source: Swansea University)

A Swansea University-led initiative has secured crucial funding to help deploy advanced battery systems in sub-Saharan Africa, supporting cleaner and more sustainable mobility solutions

The StamiNa – Sustainable Transport and Affordable Mobility through Innovation in Na-ion technology – project is one of five collaborations to receive investment from the Faraday Institution, under the second phase of the Ayrton Challenge on Energy Storage (ACES) R&D programme. Led by Swansea University, the consortium includes Coventry University, Batri Ltd, Strathmore University (Kenya), AceOn Group, and the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) in Nigeria.

These projects aim to optimise and validate battery systems that improve performance, enhance efficiency, and extend lifespan, ultimately driving the technologies closer to commercialisation.

StamiNa focuses on demonstrating and validating a new sodium-ion battery (SIB) technology through the creation of a prototype swappable battery pack tailored for e-mobility applications in East Africa.

Professor Serena Margadonna, Chair in Materials Engineering at Swansea University and project lead, said, “We’re proud to lead the StamiNa project, which brings together state-of-the-art sodium-ion battery technology developed at Swansea University with a shared vision for sustainable, equitable innovation.

“This collaboration goes beyond technology advances — it’s about delivering environmentally responsible, locally sourced solutions that are accessible to all. Together, we aim to accelerate commercialisation while supporting the growth of an African-led battery ecosystem with a local supply chain.”

SIBs offer a promising alternative to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for Africa’s e-mobility transition. They are easier to transport and face fewer supply chain challenges. The StamiNa project’s technology, jointly developed by Batri Ltd and Swansea University, utilises Prussian White cathodes and coal-derived hard carbon anodes. With energy density predicted to exceed that of commercially available SIBs, the technology stands to compete directly with LFP.

Importantly, Prussian White is synthesised in water under mild conditions and contains no nickel or cobalt, allowing for a more sustainable and energy-efficient production process that supports the creation of local supply chains.

Key objectives of the StamiNa project include:

  • Scaling up production of the active materials;

  • Refining electrode and cell assembly processes, and manufacturing multilayer pouch cells and 18650 cylindrical cells at Coventry University;

  • Integrating cylindrical cells into AceOn’s swappable battery pack for real-world field testing on e-bikes at Strathmore University (Kenya);

  • Evaluating pack performance at FUTO (Nigeria) and benchmarking against LFP and existing SIB alternatives;

  • Assessing cost, supply chain viability, recyclability, and sustainability of the technology for Sub-Saharan markets.

Through this initiative, the project aims to fast-track the commercialisation of UK-developed SIB technology while helping to build a sustainable, African-led battery ecosystem that underpins clean mobility and electrification across the continent.

Sedna Africa expands industrial reach with private mobile network deployment at Mozambique’s strategic Beira Port terminal

Sedna Africa has secured a major contract with Cornelder de Moçambique to deploy a private mobile network at Beira Port, Mozambique, aiming to improve safety, operational efficiency, and productivity at one of southern Africa’s most important transport hubs

The deployment marks a strategic move by Sedna Africa to expand beyond its traditional mining focus into other heavy industries such as ports, oil and gas, and manufacturing. The company, which recently restructured to accelerate growth across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, views the Beira project as a critical step in this evolution.

Anton Fester, managing director of Sedna Africa, explained, "Our heritage lies in mining, where we’ve built a strong pedigree supporting industry leaders like Anglo American, African Rainbow Minerals, Zimplats, Seriti, Sibanye Stillwater, Thungela and DRA. But the reality is Africa’s ageing infrastructure cannot meet the demands of modern industrial use cases, particularly when it comes to connectivity."

Most African ports still operate on outdated narrowband technologies, limiting the adoption of modern digital solutions. Sedna’s private mobile networks address this gap, enabling high-throughput, reliable communication essential for safety, automation, and productivity.

Jan de Vries, managing director of Cornelder, highlighted the port’s growing importance and the role of modern infrastructure.

"Improved port infrastructure and efficiency will attract more trade, boosting economic growth. Enhanced capabilities will support industries, create jobs and generate revenue. Modernising, digitising and focusing on safety and automation are critical components of these plans, ensuring the port is future-fit."

Sedna Africa has already delivered several pioneering industrial connectivity projects, including Africa’s first licensed spectrum private LTE network for mining and the first underground LTE deployment. The company is using its mining expertise to help resolve infrastructure bottlenecks in other sectors.

Fester adds, "We’re using the knowledge, skills, and experience honed in mining to tackle infrastructure bottlenecks across Africa."

The company’s expanded offering includes OT governance, enabling communication layers, and distributed fibre sensing. Advanced fibre optic trials have shown the potential for detecting wear, fire, and failures, supporting preventive maintenance and risk management.

With active operations in six African countries, Sedna Africa remains committed to driving Africa’s digital industrial revolution and creating a more connected, inclusive future.

 

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