Technology

AI set to boost Nigerian refinery (Image source: Adobe Stock)

As more African businesses embrace artificial intelligence(AI), the technology is moving beyond experimentation to deliver measurable operational and commercial gains.

In energy and manufacturing, AI-powered optimisation is now emerging as a tool to improve efficiency, maximise existing assets and strengthen local technical capabilities, with the potential to yield material gains.

Honeywell Technologies has announced the launch of an industrial AI platform at Nigeria’s Dangote refinery — with preliminary estimates suggesting it could generate more than US$60mn in annual gross operational benefits at full capacity.

The Forge Plant Cognition platform — developed using NVIDIA AI and accelerated computing capabilities alongside Dell Technologies’ AI infrastructure — is designed to improve throughput, reliability and operational efficiency across refining, petrochemical and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities.

The initial deployment at Dangote’s Lekki refinery will combine operational data with Honeywell’s process expertise and AI-powered optimisation tools to identify production bottlenecks, anticipate equipment and process problems and support faster decision-making.

According to Honeywell’s preliminary estimates, the technology could deliver operational benefits exceeding 29 US cents per barrel at the Lekki facility, a vital installation underpinning Nigeria’s energy sector.

At full-capacity throughput, this could amount to more than US$60mn annually in gross benefits, it says.

“By collaborating with Dangote to launch Forge Plant Cognition, we are demonstrating how AI can help transform industrial operations, driving new levels of productivity, reliability and profitability at significant scale,” said Rajesh Gattupalli, president of Honeywell Technologies UOP.

Unlike conventional AI tools focused primarily on analysing data and generating recommendations, Forge Plant Cognition combines real-time operating data, engineering knowledge and physics-based models to help operators translate insights into practical improvements.

The platform will also support workforce development by embedding specialist process knowledge into AI-powered workflows, helping Nigerian engineers and operators build technical capabilities and resolve operational issues more efficiently.

David Bird, CEO and managing director of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE, said the investment would help the company optimise performance and develop local talent.

“This investment reinforces our commitment to operational excellence, advancing technology and developing Nigerian talent to operate at world-class standards,” he said.

The initiative builds on nearly a decade of collaboration between the two companies.Honeywell is also supporting Dangote’s plans to increase refinery capacity from 650,000 to 1.4 million barrels per day within three years, through asset optimisation and faster market delivery.

GSMA targets 1bn connected Africans with new digital roadmap. (Image source: GSMA)

The GSMA and the Partnership for Digital Access in Africa (PDAA) have launched a new roadmap to accelerate meaningful digital participation across Africa and support the ambition of connecting one billion people to the internet by 2030

Launched during the United Nations General Assembly, Advancing Digital Connectivity in Africa: Charting Africa’s Path to 1 Billion Connected People by 2030 sets out priority actions for governments, industry, development partners and investors. The roadmap focuses on moving beyond network coverage to enable more people to use the internet regularly, safely and productively.

Africa's mobile internet usage gap

The roadmap builds on the GSMA State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2026, which found that 3.1 billion people globally live within mobile broadband coverage but do not use mobile internet.

In Africa, the analysis underpinning the new roadmap puts the mobile internet usage gap at around 906 million people, almost 60% of the continent’s population. A further 122 million people, or 8% of the population, still live beyond the reach of a mobile broadband network.

Developed by GSMA Intelligence for PDAA, the roadmap draws on analysis of 11 African markets: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda.

It identifies three priorities for accelerating meaningful digital participation across Africa:

• Accelerating migration from 2G and 3G to smartphone-based participation, converting more than 600 million legacy mobile connections into meaningful internet use on 4G and 5G networks.
• Integrating energy and connectivity investment, recognising reliable electricity as essential to network economics, device use and participation in the digital economy.
• Reducing the cost of reaching rural and underserved communities through shared infrastructure, innovative technologies, outcome-based public funding and anchor demand from schools, healthcare facilities and other public institutions.

Affordable smartphones and digital skills

The roadmap says progress across these priorities must be supported by access to affordable, quality smartphones, practical digital skills, safe and trusted services, locally relevant content, digital public infrastructure and policies that promote investment and inclusion.

It also recognises that there is no single pathway to closing Africa’s connectivity gap. While some markets need to continue expanding rural coverage and reliable electricity access, others need to prioritise smartphone affordability, digital skills, online safety or access to relevant services that give people a compelling reason to connect.

Halving the mobile internet usage gap across the 11 markets assessed could bring approximately 245 million additional people online.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, co-chair of PDAA, former president of Liberia and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, said, “The goal is ambitious, but it is achievable. If we bring together connectivity, electrification, affordable devices and digital skills – and if we match Africa’s many promising programmes with the power of genuine public-private partnership – we can ensure that the continent’s digital transformation leaves no community behind.”

John Giusti, GSMA Chief Regulatory Officer and President of GSMA Foundation said, “Africa has already built much of the network foundation for its digital future. The urgent task now is to close the usage gap by making smartphones and services affordable, equipping people with practical skills, building trust and ensuring connectivity delivers visible value in people’s daily lives.

This roadmap shows how governments, industry and development partners can align investment and accountability around the outcomes that matter. Reaching one billion meaningfully connected Africans will require coordinated action across infrastructure, energy, devices, skills and digital services.”

Ibrahima Guimba-Saïdou, CEO of the partnership for Digital Access in Africa (PDAA), said: “Africa cannot build its digital future on connectivity alone. A network can reach a community, but meaningful participation depends on the conditions around it: reliable energy, affordable devices, digital skills and services people have a reason to use. This roadmap gives us a practical framework for bringing those conditions together and turning access into opportunity at scale.

From ambition to coordinated delivery

The roadmap calls for stakeholders to replace standalone interventions with a coordinated delivery model connecting policy, infrastructure, energy, devices, skills, safety and relevant digital services.

PDAA will serve as a platform to bring together public- and private-sector stakeholders, align investment pipelines, reduce duplication, share risk and help proven solutions scale across markets.

The roadmap also urges governments, industry and development partners to measure progress through meaningful digital participation and socioeconomic outcomes, including active internet use, access to public services, learning, healthcare, financial inclusion and productivity, rather than infrastructure deployment alone.

The roadmap was formally presented at an event at the Rockefeller Foundation in New York on 21 September, bringing together stakeholders to discuss the collective action needed to accelerate meaningful digital participation across Africa.

Ericsson celebrates 150 years of global innovation and 30 years of partnership and digital transformation in Ghana. (Image source: Ericsson)

Telecom giant Ericsson is marking a dual milestone this year, its 150th anniversary as a global company and three decades of active presence in Ghana

The occasion honors a deep-rooted collaboration with the Ghanaian government, the local telecom sector, and the broader community, while spotlighting the company's ongoing role in shaping the country's digital future.

Across a century and a half, Ericsson has continually reshaped itself alongside the communications sector, moving from early telecom breakthroughs to building the digital backbone that keeps modern businesses, people, and communities linked today.

Three Decades of Telecom Milestones in Ghana

Ericsson's Ghana story dates back to 1996, when the company first established operations in the country. It quickly became a cornerstone partner in Ghana's telecom growth, playing a key role in rolling out the nation's very first commercial GSM network, a landmark achievement that kicked off Ghana's broader digital transformation.

In the years since, Ericsson has helped drive several major upgrades to the country's network infrastructure, including the rollout of 3G and 4G technology, connectivity solutions for rural areas, and the underlying systems that power mobile money and financial services nationwide, tools that have opened up new economic opportunities for individuals and businesses alike.

Ghana's telecom journey is one piece of Ericsson's much larger 150-year global narrative centered on expanding access to connectivity and fueling societal progress. The infrastructure Ericsson has built continues to serve as a critical resource for everyday consumers, private enterprises, and government institutions across the country.

Looking Ahead: 5G, Cloud, and the Future of Connectivity in Ghana

With its anniversary celebrations underway, Ericsson is turning attention to what comes next for digital transformation in Ghana. Key focus areas going forward include 5G and Differentiated Connectivity, network Cloudification and Automation, Enterprise and Mission-Critical Networks, and continued innovation in Mobile Financial Services.

"Our 30-year journey in Ghana is a testament to the shared belief in the potential of connectivity and the powerful partnerships we have forged over the years," Majda Lahlou Kassi, vice-president and head of ericsson West and Southern Africa, reflected on the milestone,

From the first mobile call to the promise of 5G, we have been privileged to work alongside our partners to build a strong digital foundation for the country. This anniversary is not just about celebrating the past; it's about renewing our commitment to Ghana's future. We are excited to continue this journey, co-creating solutions that will accelerate digitalisation, foster innovation, and unlock new opportunities for everyone."

Rostand Njomgang, head of Cluster Central at Ericsson West and Southern Africa, added, "For 150 years, Ericsson has been driven by the idea that communication can change the world. In Ghana, we have seen this become a reality. Our technology has helped bridge distances, empower entrepreneurs, and connect communities. As we look ahead, we are dedicated to advancing skills development and investing in the ecosystem that will support Ghana's ambition to become a digital leader. The next chapter of connectivity, defined by 5G, AI, and cloud innovation, holds immense promise, and we are proud to be a partner in making it happen."

A Global Legacy Rooted in Local Progress

Ericsson's anniversary celebrations tie together its global heritage with a distinctly local success story of growth and innovation in Ghana. Looking forward, the company remains committed to advancing Ghana's telecommunications landscape, supporting the country's digital ambitions, and continuing to push the boundaries of what connectivity can achieve.

The new service will boost connectivity for remote operations (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Paratus Uganda has launched Starlink’s low earth orbit (LEO) satellite service in the country, the first provider to do so, providing a boost to communications links for the landlocked East African state

For end users, such as mining and oil and gas operators, and other businesses working in remote locations, it will provide a faster and more resilient alternative to terrestrial connectivity, helping to keep critical operations, communications and digital services online where traditional infrastructure is limited or unavailable.

It also gives organisations greater flexibility to deploy connectivity quickly at new or temporary sites, supporting operations in some of Uganda’s most hard-to-reach areas.

The launch follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding and operational license agreement between Uganda Communication Commission and Starlink back in May 2026.

“This positions Paratus Uganda at the forefront of next-generation connectivity, unlocking high-speed, low-latency satellite access for enterprise customers across even the most remote parts of the country,” a statement by Paratus Uganda read.

Since launching last year through a joint venture between Paratus Group and Kampala-based ISP: ROKE TELKOM, Paratus Uganda has been supporting customers with resilient cross-border connectivity via the 2,000 km protected Goma-to-Mombasa (G2M) route.

“The addition of Starlink services further enhances the offering, delivering an integrated connectivity solution supported by the Paratus Group’s East-West Southern Africa backbone, redundancy solutions and value-added network services,” the statement added.

With Starlink now added to its portfolio, the company reported that it is activating a strong pipeline of customers across numerous sectors, including mining, healthcare, tourism, NGOs and government, many of which require dependable connectivity in remote and underserved areas.

“There has been significant demand for LEO services from enterprise customers who have been waiting for Starlink to become available in Uganda,” said Edwin Kyambadde, country manager of Paratus Uganda.

“Now that Starlink is licensed, the hard work begins as we connect customers across the country. This is a powerful addition to our network and it’s a game-changer for businesses operating beyond traditional infrastructure reach.”

Martin Cox, Paratus Group’s chief commercial officer, added that the Starlink license approval further enhances the group’s strategy of building a contiguous, multi-layered network across Africa.

“This will be Paratus Group’s ninth country in Africa offering Starlink services,” said Cox.

“Satellite plays a critical role in extending our reach into areas where terrestrial infrastructure is limited. With Starlink now available through Paratus Uganda, we can offer customers not only in Uganda but also across the East African region even greater resilience, faster deployment and truly borderless connectivity.”

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