Technology

The signing ceremony took place during the 28th Cairo ICT Exhibition and Conference. (Image source: Cassava)

At the 28th Cairo ICT Exhibition and Conference, eFinance Investment Group and Cassava Technologies signed an agreement to identify opportunities for collaboration and expansion across Africa

Cassava boasts an extensive portfolio stretching from fibre broadband networks, satellite communications, data centres, renewable solutions, financial technology, digital platforms, artificial intelligence, as well as cloud and cybersecurity services.

eFinance, as a developer of digital payments infrastructure, has penetrated all corners of Egypt’s digital market and has established a portfolio of subsidiaries that has enabled its growth across multiple markets, supporting the country’s digital economy.

The new collaboration will initially target the Egyptian market and will leverage both parties’ respective strengths. Cassava will bring to the table its extensive African footprint, infrastructure and experience, while eFinance will utilise its market presence and reputation as a leader in Egypt’s digital transformation.

“eFinance has a track record of success in driving digital transformation in Egypt which is truly commendable,” said Hardy Pemhiwa, president & group CEO of Cassava Technologies. “This collaboration between Cassava Technologies and eFinance Group will accelerate the adoption of digital solutions in Egypt and the MENA region. eFinance’s experience across key sectors in Egypt make them an ideal partner for us as we expand our presence in Egypt and the region. This partnership further enhances our ability to deliver on our vision of a digitally connected future that leaves no African behind.”

These sentiments were also echoed by Ibrahim Sarhan, chairman and CEO of eFinance, who expressed his pride at partnering with Cassava. He added that the collaboration represents a significant milestone in offering a unique range of joint services across the African continent, with a particular focus on the Egyptian market.

The investment underscores Ubiquity’s commitment to providing diverse offshore solutions for its clients. (Image source: Ubiquity)

Ubiquity, a leading global provider of customer experience, risk and compliance, and digital solutions, has opened a customer experience centre in Accra, Ghana

The facility is aimed at providing multilingual customer support solutions to global clients, primarily serving businesses in the financial services, healthcare, insurance and e-commerce sectors.

Located just minutes from Kotoka International Airport, it offers convenient access for international clients and is expected to unlock more than 500 professional employment opportunities for surrounding communities as per a company commitment.

“The decision to expand our global footprint into Africa comes with immense pride and excitement,” remarked Ubiquity co-founder & president, Sagar Rajgopal. “We are grateful to be a part of the thriving, cosmopolitan city of Accra which is virtually time zone neutral for the UK and EU. We are confident that its highly educated workforce, compassionate people, and favourable business environment can help us provide the best customer support and exceptional value for our partners and their customers.”

“Establishing a strong presence in Africa felt like a natural next step to support our clients with diverse offshore solutions, conducive time zone options and top talent access in a country like Ghana with such a booming economic climate,” Rajgopal added.

“This expansion allows us to enhance our service offerings and deliver even greater value to our clients while contributing to the local economy. We appreciate the warm welcome from the local community and look forward to welcoming many of its residents to our team as we continue to grow our presence here and across the region.”

The Paratus Group has made significant investments in its extensive and diverse fiber network. (Image source: Paratus)

Paratus Group, a pan-African telco, has announced the completion of its East-West Africa fibre route which offers a fast link to anywhere in the world to users from the southern African region

Representing the first coast-to-coast terrestrial route using Paratus built fibre infrastructure, it stretches from Maputo, through Johannesburg, across Botswana and Namibia, and to the West coast at the Cable Landing Station in Swakopmund.

According to Paratus, it offers an alternative terrestrial route and the current demand for this has been expedited by the recent network outages. CEO Schalk Erasmus explained, “This sea-change in imperatives has arisen due to breakages in certain subsea cable systems. Operators need a more reliable route and, with, our new East-West route, by connecting to the Equiano subsea cable, we can assure customers a fast and robust alternative. Our East-West fibre route isn't just a line on a map — it's Africa's digital lifeline.”

Paratus group chief commercial officer, Martin Cox, added, “As a steadfast partner with pan-African expertise, we offer unequalled wholesale capacity solutions for network operators. Because we understand the unique connectivity needs of the various regions, we have tailored our solutions to specific requirements, and we offer carriers and operators not only a diverse East-West route but also onward transmission to Europe.

“Recent undersea cable cuts have shown the importance of robust alternatives and why we've built redundancy into every kilometre, ensuring southern Africa stays connected, no matter what. This isn't just about backup – it's about uninterrupted operations and seamless communications. With Paratus, you're partnering with innovators who are weaving resilience into Africa's digital landscape.”

The system’s flexibility allows for high sublimation rates (>3 kg/m²h) or higher capacity at low vacuum (

GEA, a global leader in food and dairy processing solutions, has launched the RAY Plus series, its next generation batch freeze dryers that aims to provide a more flexible and efficient solution for the food industry

The series offers a cabinet size range of 45m² to 180m², with heating plates in layers of 10, 15, or 20, and condensers on both sides. These cabinets can be combined in groups of up to six, sharing a common control and support system to improve operational efficiency and ensure even load distribution across the production floor.

GEA has also developed a proprietary Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) model that precisely calculates the flow dynamics and pressure losses under deep vacuum within the freeze dryer cabinet, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency. This ensures a nearly 50% reduction in pressure drop compared to previous models.

The new series can be integrated with existing RAY freeze dryers and connected to various cooling and heating solutions. Operating at lower temperatures with higher batch loads, the RAY Plus achieves the same daily capacity with reduced energy consumption.

Additional advantages of the series include cabinets designed for efficient washdown; an intuitive user interface making it easy to operate and offering remote access; and the use of trolleys running on GEA’s proven rail system with 80 mm stainless steel pipes.