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Technology

Mimosa, CBNLA partner to power MTN broadband

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MTN to deploy Mimosa’s wireless broadband solutions to its 288 million customers in 14 African countries

Mimosa Networks, a prominent global provider of wireless broadband solutions, has announced a new strategic partnership with Cambridge Broadband Networks Africa Limited (CBNLA) to deliver its acclaimed product portfolio to MTN, Africa’s largest mobile network operator

Through this collaboration, CBNLA will facilitate access to Mimosa’s high-performance fixed wireless products and services across all MTN locations.

This initiative allows MTN to deploy Mimosa’s wireless broadband solutions to its 288 million customers in 14 African countries.

MTN, with a vast customer base spanning multiple African markets, plays a pivotal role in enhancing digital connectivity across both urban centres and underserved rural areas. The integration of Mimosa’s cost-effective wireless technology, offering fiber-like speeds — supports MTN’s commitment to delivering faster, more reliable broadband access across the continent.

The agreement between Mimosa and CBNLA ensures MTN has streamlined access to a full range of Mimosa’s products, including high-capacity backhaul systems, access points, and client radios. These solutions operate over unlicensed spectrum, enabling rapid network expansion without the limitations of traditional infrastructure. As a regional service partner and systems integrator, CBNLA will assist MTN in efficiently deploying these solutions across diverse market conditions, supporting the growing demand for broadband and improving overall network performance.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with MTN and CBNLA to expand broadband access across Africa,” said Jim Nevelle, senior vice-president and general manager of Mimosa Networks. “This partnership aligns with our goal of delivering high-speed, affordable connectivity to both established and underserved regions, creating new opportunities for economic growth and digital inclusion.”

This collaboration marks a significant step in Mimosa’s broader strategy to expand affordable, high-speed broadband throughout Africa by working alongside major network operators and infrastructure partners.

IFC, Orange target rural Africa’s digital inclusion

OMEA and IFC unite to develop sustainable digital infrastructure in eight African countries. (Image source: IFC)

Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) has entered a strategic partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to boost access to digital services across eight African nations

The agreement was formalised during the Africa CEO Forum held in Abidjan on 12–13 May.

Focusing on underserved regions in West and Central Africa, this alliance aims to enhance digital inclusion and sustainability. It combines OMEA’s regional expertise and infrastructure with IFC’s development financing capabilities. Over the coming years, the collaboration will support the rollout of key telecom infrastructure, including towers and fibre networks.

The initiative builds on IFC’s prior involvement in the sector, such as its support for West Africa’s first telecom securitisation operation and its provision of sustainable financing to Sonatel. These efforts, valued at around US$75mn in 2024, have already strengthened Senegal’s digital infrastructure by expanding 4G and fibre coverage, particularly in rural areas.

Through this partnership, OMEA and IFC aim to establish a scalable investment model that bridges the digital divide, fosters financial inclusion, enhances regional resilience, and generates employment—especially in the digital sector.

“This partnership with IFC is a major step in accelerating our ambition to reduce the digital gap by offering quality, sustainable, and accessible connectivity to as many people as possible, especially in rural or underserved areas. By combining our strengths, we aim to build a more equitable digital future for everyone in Africa,” said Jérôme Hénique, CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa.

“Increasing access to digital connectivity in Africa is a key priority to foster innovation, expand financial inclusion, and create jobs. Strengthening our partnership with Orange Middle East and Africa demonstrates our commitment to positioning digital technology as a strategic lever for sustainable economic transformation, benefiting individuals and businesses,” added Ethiopis Tafara, IFC vice-president for Africa.

South Africa data centre deploys self-cooling rack

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Demand for data centre services in Africa is rising fast

Africa Data Centres has deployed a self-cooling rack by Gold Synergy at its CPT1 facility in Cape Town to boost performance while minimising energy consumption

The installation represents a significant advancement in the evolution of high-density computing in Africa and supports Africa Data Centres’ commitment to sustainable, efficient infrastructure solutions, the company said in a statement.

The innovative self-cooling rack, commissioned in January 2025, is designed to meet the increasing demand for high-performance computing while minimising energy consumption, said Adil El Youssefi, CEO, Africa Data Centres.

As the region experiences rising power and cooling challenges driven by artificial intelligence, big data and enterprise workloads, self-contained cooling technologies offer a smart and scalable solution.

“Our collaboration with Gold Synergy introduces new efficiencies in high-density hosting,” said El Youssefi.

“By integrating this cutting-edge cooling solution at CPT1, we are creating a model for how data centres in Africa can scale intelligently while remaining aligned with global sustainability targets. The success of this deployment positions both Africa Data Centres and Gold Synergy to expand CDU-based cooling technologies across the region, further supporting Africa’s growing need for next-generation infrastructure.”

Gold Synergy brings a wealth of expertise in advanced cooling solutions.

The deployment at CPT1 demonstrates the viability of self-cooling racks in African conditions, setting the stage for broader collaboration in supporting regional ESG objectives, said Fortune Utubor, executive at Gold Synergy.

“Our self-cooling rack solution is a game-changing approach for high-density computing environments. This deployment reflects our shared commitment to energy efficiency and operational excellence.”

South Africa remains a strategic digital hub for the continent. With its reliable infrastructure, favourable location, and increasing demand for cloud and AI services, the country plays a pivotal role in the digital transformation of Africa.

As enterprises move mission-critical applications closer to home, infrastructure capable of supporting such workloads efficiently becomes essential.

The deployment not only increases the CPT1 facility’s hosting capacity without requiring major infrastructure modifications, but it also reinforces Africa Data Centres’ position as a leading carrier-neutral data centre provider on the continent.

The new solution helps reduce reliance on traditional cooling systems and contributes to operational cost savings for both clients and facility operators.

AI data centres to drive Africa's power demand

Raxio nets US$100mn from IFC for data centres

Nokia powers Reflex's broadband network expansion in South Africa

Nokia partners with Reflex to enhance ISP onboarding and broadband access across South Africa’s regions. (Image source: Nokia)

Nokia has announced that Reflex will roll out its advanced Broadband Network Gateway (BNG) solution to upgrade and scale its infrastructure, accelerating ISP onboarding and enhancing broadband services for South African communities and enterprises

The deployment will also improve space and energy efficiency, ensuring Reflex’s network can support long-term national growth.

With digital transformation driving rising broadband demand across both urban and rural South Africa, underserved areas remain a persistent challenge. Reflex is tackling this head-on by replacing legacy BNGs with Nokia’s scalable solution—designed to bridge connectivity gaps and empower more ISPs to expand their reach. Research has shown that broader broadband access could significantly boost Africa’s economy, reinforcing the importance of initiatives like Reflex’s network upgrade. Nokia’s technology supports this evolution by addressing network scalability, efficiency, and sustainability.

“Working with partners like Reflex from Myriad Group, which recognises the importance of Neutral Host models providing flexible and scalable networks, is crucial in addressing the connectivity challenges across South Africa. By replacing the legacy BNGs and investing in our Nokia 7750 Service Router platform, Reflex can onboard multiple ISPs and their subscribers with minimal equipment’s needs, lowering up-front investment, reducing energy use and supporting a more sustainable and inclusive digital future,” said Toni Pellegrino, managing director of South Africa and head of network infrastructure for Southern and Eastern Africa at Nokia.

“Reflex’s mission is to give every ISP in South Africa an instant, carrier-grade on-ramp to a truly Tier 1 network. Being a value-added reseller of Nokia, we believe in the solutions they provide so much that we deploy it in our core network ourselves,” remarked Charles Castle, commercial & sales executive at Reflex Carrier Solutions.

“By integrating Nokia’s 7750 SR-1 Broadband Network Gateways and carrier-grade NAT into the Reflex backbone, we are adding capacity and intelligence while reducing space, power and complexity. The result is a future-ready platform that is scalable, secure and always-on—delivering unrivalled uptime, rock-solid redundancy and the high-speed performance our partners need, to grow with confidence. With Nokia as our technology partner, Reflex can light up new services for ISPs nationwide in days instead of months, ensuring that the ISPs who rely on our VISP offering—and the communities they serve — enjoy the best possible broadband experience today and far into the future, supported by our highly accredited local engineering teams,” Castle concluded.

Reflex’s network upgrade is built on Nokia’s 7750 SR-1 platform, integrated with Carrier-Grade NAT (CG-NAT), enabling expanded reach and improved operations across South Africa while promoting a faster, more inclusive and resilient digital economy.

Transforming industrial operations through AI and automation

AVEVA, a global powerhouse in industrial software, has teamed up with ServiceNow, a leading AI platform for business transformation, to spearhead a new era of industrial innovation, according to a joint announcement.

The partnership aims to accelerate digital transformation and sustainability across industrial enterprises by merging cutting-edge technologies from both companies.

The collaboration will integrate AVEVA’s four decades of industrial software expertise and its CONNECT intelligence platform with ServiceNow’s AI-driven Operational Technology Management solutions.

This synergy promises to unify teams, digital infrastructures, and data across locations and applications, fostering seamless collaboration and driving productivity.

By combining their strengths within the CONNECT platform, the partnership will enable companies to streamline industrial processes, harness AI and automation for efficient workflows, and leverage analytics to optimise operations, reduce downtime, and boost production.

A stronger partnership

“In today’s rapidly evolving industrial landscape, organisations must focus on AI, automation, innovation, and efficiency to remain competitive while tackling key challenges,” states Bry Dillon, SVP Partners and Commercial Strategy, AVEVA. “Maintaining asset reliability, modernising outdated processes, implementing automated workflows, preserving critical industry knowledge, and equipping the next generation of workers is all essential. This must be managed alongside the transition to sustainable practices while still meeting profitability targets. Companies must adapt quickly to these transformative shifts to enhance productivity, minimise waste, and reduce costs. AVEVA and ServiceNow’s partnership empowers organisations to streamline workflows, automate operations, and improve asset performance and operational efficiency to drive sustainable growth across the industrial enterprise.”

The partnership also addresses critical needs in industrial cybersecurity and operational technology (OT) integration with information technology (IT). “Our collaboration with AVEVA represents a critical advancement in industrial cybersecurity and OT-IT convergence,” adds Neelima Rustagi, VP and GM for Technology Workflow Solutions, ServiceNow. “We deliver end-to-end visibility across assets, processes, and threats by integrating AVEVA’s robust industrial data platform with ServiceNow’s secure and intelligent Operational Technology Management workflows. This joint solution enables real-time anomaly detection, root cause analysis with robust compliance management. It empowers organisations to transition from reactive to proactive operations—enhancing resilience, accelerating decision-making, and aligning with modern industrial transformation goals and AI-driven automation.”

AVEVA, headquartered in Cambridge, UK, is a trusted partner to over 90% of leading industrial enterprises, supporting essential sectors like energy, food, pharmaceuticals, and infrastructure.

Its CONNECT platform, enriched with industrial AI, facilitates collaboration across supply chains and drives sustainable value. ServiceNow’s expertise in AI-driven workflows complements AVEVA’s offerings, creating a robust solution for industries navigating rapid technological and environmental shifts.