In The Spotlight
Standard Bank backs CANAL+ JSE debut
Standard Bank has played a key advisory role in CANAL+’s successful secondary inward listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), a transaction that provides South African investors with direct access to one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies
Acting as joint financial advisor and transaction sponsor, Standard Bank supported CANAL+ throughout the listing process, contributing its expertise in capital markets, regulatory requirements and transaction execution. The deal highlights the bank’s ability to facilitate cross-border equity market transactions and connect international companies with African investment opportunities.
The secondary inward listing enables investors on the JSE to trade shares in CANAL+, which maintains its primary listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). The arrangement preserves a single, fully fungible share pool across both exchanges. While the transaction did not involve the issuance of new shares, it is expected to improve the liquidity and tradability of CANAL+ stock over time while expanding the company’s investor base.
The listing represents an important development for South Africa’s capital markets. By bringing an internationally recognised media and entertainment company to the JSE, the transaction contributes to the exchange’s ongoing diversification efforts and strengthens Johannesburg’s position as a gateway for global businesses seeking access to African capital.
The move also follows CANAL+’s combination with MultiChoice, further strengthening the company’s presence across the African continent and aligning its market operations with its long-term regional growth objectives.
CANAL+ currently serves more than 42 million subscribers across over 70 countries. The company has established a significant presence in both Europe and Africa, with the African market playing a central role in its future growth plans. Its strategy is supported by long-standing operations on the continent, investments in locally produced content and continued expansion of its distribution capabilities.
By securing a secondary listing on the JSE, CANAL+ is expected to strengthen its engagement with South African investors while increasing its visibility within one of Africa’s most developed financial markets.
“This is a milestone transaction for the JSE and for South Africa’s equity capital markets more broadly. The listing brings a globally recognised media and entertainment business to the local market, expands the investable universe for domestic investors and reflects continued international confidence in the depth, sophistication and relevance of our exchange. We are proud to have supported CANAL+ on a transaction that also reinforces Standard Bank’s position as a leading advisor on complex equity capital markets transactions across Africa,” said Richard Stout, Head of Equity Capital Markets, South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa at Standard Bank Corporate and Investment Banking.
“We are proud to become the first French company ever to list in Johannesburg and the only global media and entertainment company listed on the exchange. Following our listing on the London Stock Exchange 18 months ago, this dual listing reinforces our ambition to be a bridge between Europe and Africa. This milestone anchors our dual-continental approach, consolidating our unique position in the global media and entertainment industry,” remarked Maxime Saada, Chief Executive Officer of CANAL+.
The listing comes at a time when demand for premium and locally relevant content continues to grow across Africa. Increasing digital connectivity and a rapidly expanding consumer base are creating new opportunities for media and entertainment companies operating on the continent.
For CANAL+, Africa remains a key growth market, supported by its content portfolio, technology investments and established operational footprint. The JSE listing further strengthens its relationship with regional capital markets and investors.
The transaction also underscores Standard Bank’s role in supporting international companies pursuing strategic opportunities in Africa, while contributing to the development and expansion of the continent’s capital markets ecosystem.
Mastercard leadership reshuffle strengthens global customer focus
Mastercard has announced a series of leadership updates designed to strengthen execution, deepen customer engagement and support the company’s continued growth strategy
The changes are intended to reinforce the company’s customer-centric approach by bringing customer-facing functions together under a unified structure. According to Mastercard, the move will enhance coordination, accountability and support across markets while ensuring customer perspectives remain central to the development of products and services.
Effective 3 August 2026, several senior executives will assume new roles across the organisation.
Ling Hai, currently president of Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, will become chief financial officer, succeeding Sachin Mehra. Mastercard said Ling Hai brings extensive operating experience across international markets, deep customer and product knowledge, and a strong commercial perspective to the position.
Sachin Mehra will transition from chief financial officer to the newly created role of chief business officer. In this position, he will oversee country operations worldwide and lead Sales Enablement, Global Partnerships and Digital Commercialization under a unified global go-to-market structure. The company highlighted his operational discipline, financial expertise and commercial acumen as key strengths for the role.
Linda Kirkpatrick, currently president of the Americas, will become chief services officer, succeeding Craig Vosburg. Mastercard noted her role in expanding the company’s engagements beyond payments, strengthening partnerships and growing services offerings for financial institutions, merchants, fintechs and digital partners.
Dimi Dosis, president of Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, will assume the role of chief commercial payments officer, leading Commercial & New Payment Flows. He succeeds Raj Seshadri and brings significant regional and enterprise leadership experience, alongside a strong track record of driving growth and executing global strategies at the local level.
Jorn Lambert, chief product officer, will continue to lead Consumer Payments, bringing together Mastercard’s stablecoin, agentic and core payments activities.
Craig Vosburg will move from chief services officer to vice chair, serving as a global ambassador for the company while supporting regional leadership teams in developing senior stakeholder relationships.
Raj Seshadri, currently chief commercial payments officer, will become senior strategic advisor to the CEO, focusing on senior client engagement, key partnerships and emerging strategic priorities.
Meanwhile, Tim Murphy, vice chair, will retire from Mastercard in October as previously planned.
“Mastercard has built strong momentum by staying close to customers and anticipating where their needs are headed. That drives our innovation and how we deliver meaningful solutions for their customers,” said Michael Miebach, chief executive officer of Mastercard. “These leadership updates build on our strategy by aligning our team to that opportunity — strengthening execution, advancing a more connected customer experience and positioning the company for our continued growth.”
New subsea cable route between France and Tunisia enters service, enhancing digital resilience and capacity.
The ViaTunisia subsea cable segment between Marseille in France, and Bizerte in Tunisia, has reached Ready for Service (RFS) marking the transition from construction to full operational availability on a direct and resilient new route between southern Europe and North Africa
From infrastructure design to live connectivity
The journey to RFS began long before the cable touched the seabed. Designed as an open, point-to-point system with a 25-year design life, ViaTunisia moved through each phase: marine surveys, factory acceptance tests, cable loading, laying, shore landings and final splicing. Marine operations were carried out by Orange Marine’s Sophie Germain and Elettra TLC’s Teliri cableships, under the coordination of Elettra TLC, with system design and equipment delivered by Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN).
A European-supported infrastructure
ViaTunisia was co-financed by the European Union under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Digital) program.
The Grant Agreement, signed in December 2022, provided funding covering 30% of the construction and management costs. This demonstrates the EU’s commitment to reinforcing digital connectivity, supporting the rapid growth of data traffic driven by digital transformation and AI, and enabling new opportunities for digital services, investments, and innovation.
Creating a new digital bridge between Europe and Africa
ViaTunisia extends directly into Orange’s global infrastructure in Marseille, through a fully redundant urban fiber ring connecting all the Data Centers in the city. This set up enables seamless interconnexion and distribution of international capacity across Europe.
By combining the resilience, security and performance of a global backbone with Marseille’s role as a leading interconnection hub, ViaTunisia provides direct, high-capacity connectivity between North Africa and the wider digital world. It also multiplies route options in this area, especially in natural disaster-prone areas, minimising outages caused by cable failures, thus improving overall network resilience.
Yas, owned by AXIAN Telecom, advanced eleven places in the Financial Times Africa’s Fastest-Growing Companies 2026 ranking.
Yas, owned by AXIAN Telecom, has strengthened its position among Africa’s fastest-growing companies after securing the 63rd spot in the Financial Times Africa’s Fastest-Growing Companies 2026 ranking, compiled in partnership with Statista
The latest result represents an improvement of eleven places from the company’s debut ranking of 74th in 2025. Now in its fifth edition, the FT-Statista ranking evaluates 130 African companies based on compound annual revenue growth recorded between 2021 and 2024. Revenue submissions are certified at executive level, providing a stringent benchmark of high-growth businesses across the continent.
Hassan Jaber, CEO of AXIAN Telecom, said, “This ranking reflects the momentum we have built across every part of our business. Strong financial results, a successful bond issuance, the launch of Yas as a unified pan-African brand, and our continued investment in networks and digital infrastructure, which are not isolated achievements. They are expressions of a single, coherent strategy: to build the connectivity and digital services that Africa needs, and to do so with the discipline and ambition this continent deserves.”
The company reported strong financial performance for the 2025 financial year, achieving revenue of US$1.691bn, representing year-on-year growth of 20%. Yas currently serves 43.8 million subscribers across 11 African markets, reflecting increasing demand for digital services and connectivity throughout the continent.
In July 2025, the company also completed a successful US$600mn bond issuance after receiving a credit rating upgrade to B+.
Alongside its financial growth, Yas has also gained international recognition for its brand positioning. Following the rollout of its unified pan-African identity across mobile operations in Madagascar, Tanzania, Togo, Senegal and Comoros, the company entered the Brand Finance Telecoms 150 2026 ranking for the first time.
The brand was ranked among the world’s top 20 strongest telecom brands and was additionally recognised as a ‘Brand to Watch’ for 2026.
DE-CIX, Internet pour tous and UNITED S.A. have expanded ACIX into a second Kinshasa data centre to strengthen regional interconnection
DE-CIX, in collaboration with the NGO Internet pour tous and Kinshasa-based connectivity and web hosting provider UNITED S.A., has announced the expansion of ACIX (Africa Congo Internet Exchange) through the addition of a new presence at OADC Texaf’s FIH1 data centre in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
The development makes ACIX the first distributed Internet Exchange (IX) in the DRC and represents a significant milestone in the country’s digital infrastructure development. By extending operations into a neutral and modern colocation facility, the initiative is expected to strengthen local Internet traffic exchange, reduce latency, improve network resilience and create broader interconnection opportunities for operators and digital service providers across the region.
Launched in 2023, ACIX powered by DE-CIX was created as a neutral interconnection platform open to licensed telecom operators, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), cloud and content providers, enterprises, financial institutions, academic networks and international carriers operating within the DRC and surrounding markets.
The exchange is managed by DE-CIX on behalf of Internet pour tous under the company’s DE-CIX-as-a-Service (DaaS) programme. The NGO plays a key role in supporting and coordinating the ACIX initiative as a neutral digital ecosystem platform aimed at encouraging inclusive interconnection and wider digital growth across the country.
Through the platform, networks in equatorial Africa are able to exchange data more efficiently with lower latency, improving the performance of services and applications ranging from online education to Internet banking.
“ACIX is more than an Internet Exchange; it is foundational digital infrastructure for the future of Central Africa,” stated Hussein Ibrahim, CEO of UNITED SA. “Strong digital ecosystems are built on strong interconnection. ACIX represents an important step toward a more connected and digitally empowered region, where data can remain local, networks become more resilient, and innovation can scale across borders.”
Open Access Data Centres, one of Africa’s fastest-growing data centre operators, is providing the carrier-neutral infrastructure environment for the ACIX deployment at its Kinshasa campus through OADC Texaf. The company operates an expanding network of open-access and carrier-neutral data centres designed to support interconnected digital ecosystems across the continent.
“As a neutral infrastructure provider, our role is to enable open interconnection and support the development of the broader digital ecosystem,” said Mohammed Bouhelal, managing director and director, business development of OADC Texaf DC. “Hosting ACIX within a carrier-neutral environment contributes to creating a trusted platform where all ecosystem participants can interconnect on equal terms.”
DE-CIX said the addition of the new facility will allow more regional and international networks to connect to the exchange while benefiting from improved connectivity and localised traffic exchange.
“DE-CIX is proud to support ‘Internet pour tous’ and UNITED S.A. in the expansion of ACIX and the development of a distributed, data center and carrier neutral Internet Exchange for the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” commented Marco Brandstaetter, global program manager for DE-CIX as a Service at DE-CIX. “The integration of OADC Texaf’s newly-built Kinshasa facility will enable additional networks to connect to the exchange and benefit from improved connectivity. ACIX is creating digital opportunities for the DRC and equatorial Africa by aggregating networks and enabling low latency and resilient local data exchange.”
Kinshasa’s strategic location between two of Africa’s most densely populated regions positions the city as an important connectivity gateway linking countries from the Atlantic coast to the Indian Ocean. ACIX is expected to strengthen this role by serving as an interconnection hub for equatorial Africa, enabling networks to exchange data and host digital content with improved performance and reliability.
DE-CIX’s DaaS programme provides a range of managed services for partners seeking to establish Internet Exchanges and interconnection platforms, including installation, maintenance, provisioning, marketing and sales support, while the operational management remains fully handled by DE-CIX.
Uganda approves Starlink operations after signing licensing agreement to boost internet access and digital transformation. (Image source: Ministry of ICT & National Guidence)
Starlink has received official approval to commence operations in Uganda after signing a Memorandum of Understanding and operational licensing agreement with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) at State House in Entebbe on 15 May 2026
The agreement represents a significant development in Uganda’s efforts to improve internet accessibility and accelerate national digital transformation initiatives.
Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni attended the signing ceremony and acknowledged Starlink’s commitment to operating within Uganda’s legal and regulatory requirements. “Our interest is security, revenue assurance, and proper accountability within the telecommunications sector so that we know who is operating and who the customers are,” president Museveni said.
He further expressed satisfaction with the company’s readiness to meet Uganda’s operational conditions ahead of launching services in the country.
Following the signing, the Uganda Communications Commission issued the necessary operational certification required for Starlink’s deployment within the country. Under the licensing terms, the company must establish a national gateway, maintain a physical presence in Uganda and operate a local office staffed with technical and legal personnel.
The rollout is expected to enhance internet access across the country, particularly in rural and underserved regions where connectivity challenges remain significant.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ryan Goodnight described the agreement as an important development for both Uganda and Starlink.
“It is a great honor to be here in this beautiful country. We are incredibly excited that we are forging this cooperation and bringing this network here,” he said.
He added that Starlink intends to support wider digital participation by reducing internet costs and expanding access to reliable connectivity services.
Goodnight also announced plans for the company to support sectors including healthcare and education through the donation of internet connectivity devices to selected facilities across Uganda.
Uganda’s Ministry of ICT and National Guidance welcomed the partnership, noting that it could strengthen innovation, improve digital inclusion and create new opportunities across sectors such as business, education, healthcare and communications.
The introduction of Starlink services is expected to play a key role in Uganda’s broader digital transformation agenda by expanding connectivity access nationwide.
Apple launches Tap to Pay on iPhone in South Africa
Apple has introduced Tap to Pay on iPhone in South Africa, allowing businesses to accept secure contactless payments directly through an iPhone without requiring additional payment hardware or terminals
Developed in partnership with payment platforms, application developers and payment networks, the solution enables merchants to process in-person contactless transactions using a compatible iOS application. Customers can pay using contactless debit and credit cards, Apple Pay and other digital wallets.
The feature is supported on iPhone Xs models and newer devices operating on the latest iOS version. During checkout, customers simply place their contactless card, iPhone, Apple Watch or digital wallet near the merchant’s iPhone to complete the transaction through NFC technology.
The launch is designed to help businesses of different sizes streamline payment acceptance while improving mobility and operational flexibility by removing the need for separate point-of-sale hardware.
Apple has collaborated with major payment service providers and commerce technology developers to integrate Tap to Pay on iPhone into iOS applications, enabling merchants to activate the feature through supported payment platforms.
In South Africa, iStore Pay and Yoco are the first payment providers to support Tap to Pay on iPhone, giving merchants access to the service at launch.
The solution currently supports Apple Pay, contactless debit and credit cards, and other digital wallets linked to major payment networks, including Mastercard and Visa. Support for American Express is expected to be added in the future.
Apple stated that privacy and security remain central to the platform’s design. Transactions processed through Tap to Pay on iPhone are encrypted and handled through the Secure Element technology also used within Apple Pay. According to the company, Apple does not access purchase details, customer identities, card numbers or transaction information stored on devices or servers.
Via Africa submarine cable project aims to strengthen network resilience and connectivity diversity across West Africa
A new submarine cable initiative linking Europe and Africa along the Atlantic corridor is moving forward following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by a group of international telecom and digital infrastructure investors
The project, known as Via Africa, is intended to strengthen connectivity capacity, support rising data traffic demand and improve network resilience across the African continent.
The consortium behind the project includes Canalink, GUILAB, International Mauritania Telecom, Orange Group, Orange Côte d'Ivoire, Sonatel and Silverlinks.
The planned subsea system will establish a new route connecting Europe to South Africa, with landing stations expected in the United Kingdom, France and Portugal. The cable will also serve several Atlantic coastal destinations including the Canary Islands, Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria, with further southern extensions planned to increase route diversity and connectivity reliability across additional African markets.
The project is structured around a consortium model that enables participating organisations to jointly invest in the infrastructure while taking part in governance and strategic decision-making. The approach is designed to provide partners with greater operational independence and infrastructure sovereignty while allowing them to contribute directly to decisions concerning system design, deployment and future operation.
Project stakeholders noted that the consortium framework remains open, with opportunities for additional telecom operators and digital infrastructure players to join the initiative at a later stage.
Via Africa is expected to improve the resilience of Africa’s international communications infrastructure by creating an alternative subsea pathway to complement existing cable systems. The new route is intended to strengthen redundancy and diversify connectivity options for countries located along the Atlantic coast.
During the project’s initial phase, consortium members will jointly fund a detailed marine route study aimed at determining the most suitable cable path based on technical, economic and resilience considerations.
At the same time, preparations are underway for the procurement phase, including the selection of a cable manufacturing and deployment partner as the project advances toward implementation.
New subsea cable route between France and Tunisia enters service, enhancing digital resilience and capacity.
DE-CIX, Internet pour tous and UNITED S.A. have expanded ACIX into a second Kinshasa data centre to strengthen regional interconnection
Bringing direct-to-cell satellite connectivity to 4G smartphones in no coverage areas
Airtel Africa and SpaceX have confirmed the successful trial of data and messaging services using Starlink Mobile in Kenya, marking a major step forward in extending satellite to mobile connectivity across Airtel Africa’s 14 operating markets
The demonstration was carried out in remote locations with no existing network coverage, where conventional terrestrial signals were unavailable. In these areas, Starlink Mobile was activated seamlessly, enabling standard 4G smartphones to connect directly to Starlink’s network of more than 650 deployed satellites and maintain communication.
Sunil Taldar, CEO, Airtel Africa, said, “We are thrilled to move from announcement to actionable steps with our partners at SpaceX. This testing phase in Kenya is a testament to our commitment to expanding global access. By integrating Starlink Mobile’s technology, we are ensuring that our customers remain connected even when they travel beyond our terrestrial network.”
Building on the results of the Kenya trial, Airtel Africa and Starlink Mobile intend to use the findings to support a broader rollout across Airtel Africa’s footprint, subject to regulatory approvals in each market. The collaboration also includes plans to introduce voice services and enhanced data capabilities through Starlink Mobile V2 technology, which will deliver broadband connectivity directly to mobile devices.
Apple launches Tap to Pay on iPhone in South Africa
Financial inclusion grows through mobile money usage
Boeing to line-fit SES satellite connectivity systems. (Image source: SES)
SES has announced a key milestone toward achieving offerability of its multi-orbit antenna system for installation by Boeing
This development will enable airlines to take delivery of new aircraft with onboard connectivity systems already installed, allowing services to be activated immediately following delivery through a Boeing-provided modification.
As part of the collaboration, Boeing will integrate SES’s in-cabin connectivity hardware during the aircraft production process. This marks an important step toward making SES’s multi-orbit system available as a fully line-fit connectivity solution across Boeing’s commercial aircraft portfolio. Boeing will handle installation of the full in-cabin network while also coordinating the integration of external equipment. The initial rollout will focus on the Boeing 737, followed by the 787 programme.
“We are proud of our partnership with Boeing and this outstanding progress,” said Mike DeMarco, president of Mobility at SES. “We are on track for full line-fit offerability, giving airlines a seamless path to select and install the multi-orbit electronically steered array (ESA) antenna solution during aircraft factory production.”
“Our collaboration with SES reflects Boeing’s commitment to delivering advanced, reliable connectivity to our airline customers,” said Destry Lucas, Director Airplane Connectivity, at Boeing. “We are making strong progress bringing multi-orbit connectivity into the production environment, enabling a more streamlined installation approach and supporting scalable, line-fit capable solutions.”
SES’s multi-orbit system is designed to operate across both low Earth orbit (LEO) and geostationary (GEO) satellite constellations, enabling global coverage, built-in redundancy, and low-latency performance. The company’s electronically steered array (ESA) technology has already achieved 500 installations, with a further 1,000 commitments secured, highlighting strong market confidence in its in-flight connectivity solution.
Uganda approves Starlink operations after signing licensing agreement to boost internet access and digital transformation. (Image source: Ministry of ICT & National Guidence)
The partnership aims to expand broadband access nationwide. (Image source: Eutelsat)
Brady Corporation unveils i4311 portable printer. (Image source: Brady Corporation)
Print everything you need, where you need it! With the first transportable printer to deliver 101.60 mm wide labelling without cords or limits
Automated identification and data capture specialist Brady Corporation launches a new type of hybrid label printer that offers industrial label printing performance in a cordless, portable design.
Larger labels
Brady´s new BradyPrinter i4311 is designed to bridge the gap between stationary benchtop label printer power and mobile flexibility. A well-known limitation for most mobile label printers is the maximum width of the label. Brady´s i4311 marks the new maximum label width at 101.60 mm for connected label printing systems that retain true portability.
The larger print width brings a lot more applications into the mobile label printing range, including perforated work-in-progress tags, common size rating plates and larger cable tags, wraps, sleeves, asset labels, component labels and GHS-compliant chemical labels.
Cut the cord
No need to look for power outlets with the i4311. The printer is powered by a battery that can handle 5000 large labels on a single charge. Swapping batteries has been made easy and they can be charged in 3.5 hours.
Easy to integrate
The new BradyPrinter i4311 can print labels from phones, tablets and laptops, and even from central company systems using Brady´s software development kit or ZPL support. In addition to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, the i4311 also features ethernet and USB-C connections.
The printer´s on-board 7´´ (17.78 cm) touch screen offers both on-device support as well as the capability to print labels directly from the printer. Users can store on average different 85 000 label templates in the printer that can be completed with an on-board ´fill in´ option, fully responsive to your touch.
Industry feedback
Brady also revealed i4311 printer features that were developed with close involvement from the company´s long-standing customers. As a result, the printer´s footprint was limited to 23 x 23 x 33 cm and 5.9 kg and the device´s easy-to-grip handle was optimised.
A battery-saver was also added for when the printer is not in use and battery-swapping was made even easier.
Portable benchtop
Right in the middle of Brady´s mobile label printer and industrial benchtop label printer line ups now sits the BradyPrinter i4311: a portable printer with the company´s benchtop industrial printing capabilities.
Compatible with more than 1300 Brady label parts, the i4311 can print on a majority of Brady´s reliable, laboratory-tested label materials. Just like other Brady printers the i4311 includes LabelSense technology to automatically set label material burn, size and pre-print settings as soon as a label roll is loaded.
The company´s newest label printer also works with a host of free Brady Express Labels mobile apps. These enable users to select text in an image file for example, and import it for printing on a label. Or to read barcodes with a phone and send them to the printer. With a commanding voice, labels can even be printed completely hands-free, using BradyVoice, a smartphone microphone and the BradyPrinter i4311.
Watch the printer in action & learn more >>
BRADY Corporation in Africa
T: +27 11 704 3295
Mastercard leadership reshuffle strengthens global customer focus
Yas, owned by AXIAN Telecom, advanced eleven places in the Financial Times Africa’s Fastest-Growing Companies 2026 ranking.
Mozambique’s energy sector to receive a boost from the African Development Bank following the institution’s participation in Maputo at the Africa50 summit
Mozambique’s energy sector is to receive a boost from the African Development Bank (AfDB) following the institution’s participation in Maputo at the Africa50 shareholders meeting
Africa50 is an investment platform established by African governments with the AfDB, which has now surpassed US$1.4bn in managed assets directed at infrastructure provision.
At the 2025 summit, a memorandum of understanding was signed with Electricidade de Mozambique (EDM) for the development of three transmission lines under an Independent Power Transmission (IPT) framework.
“This will help support the government’s ambition to achieve universal electricity access by 2030 and become a significant exporter of power across the Southern African Development Community,” a statement released by AfDB noted.
Finalisation of the project development agreements is now underway for three lines under an IPT framework, partnering with Power Grid and EDM, it added.
A separate MoU was also signed with the Ministry of Communications and Digital Transformation to build a new data centre facility in Maputo and to modernise the existing one.
Africa50’s Mozambique portfolio already includes equity investment in the 175MW Central Termica de Ressano Garcia (CTRG) gas-fired power plant.
According to Dr Akinwumi Adesina, president of the AfDB Group, investments by Africa50 complement broader support from the bank itself that have delivered some US$1.6bn to Mozambique over the past decade.
This investment includes US$400mn in senior debt financing for the country's flagship US$20bn liquified natural gas (LNG) project in Cabo Delgado, as well as the US$34mn Mozambique Energy for All Project, which has connected more than 45,500 households to electricity.
The bank claims its energy sector investments have helped to double Mozambique's national energy access rate from 30% in 2018 to 60% in 2024.
The AfDB has also supported agricultural transformation through special agro-industrial processing zones, including the Pemba-Lichinga corridor, while financing critical transport infrastructure along the Nacala and Beira corridors that enhance regional trade connectivity for the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Earlier this year, the AfDB approved US$43.6mn in funding for the construction of the Namaacha-Boane transmission line and related electricity infrastructure
EDM will implement the project in partnership with Central Eléctrica da Namaacha (CEN), a private sector-led development group involving Globeleq Africa Limited and Source Energia that is building the 120 MW Namaacha wind farm in the southwestern part of the country.
The Vertiv PowerDirect 7100 Energy supplies up to 52 kW of scalable 48 V DC power and delivers efficiency levels of up to 98%. (Image source: Vertiv)
International Power Control Systems (IPCS) has been named as a distribution partner in Malawi by Vertiv, a specialist in critical digital infrastructure
ASM strategies to protect digital assets
Attack surface management (ASM) has seen significant growth in recent years, evolving into a recognised market category that provides businesses with the visibility and strategies needed to safeguard their digital assets, reports Kyle Pillay, security as a service manager at Datacentrix
As Forrester’s Attack Surface Management Solutions Landscape, Q2 2024 notes, ASM “delivers insights on assets that ultimately support business objectives, keep the lights on, generate revenue, and delight customers.”
At its essence, ASM involves continuously discovering, identifying, inventorying, and assessing the exposures of an organisation’s IT asset estate, a foundational step in maintaining a strong security posture.
Knowing your environment
Fundamentally, ASM helps organisations ‘know your environment’, highlighting gaps in defenses before attackers can exploit them.
Every threat actor or hacker begins with reconnaissance, mapping out your external-facing assets. This is why External Attack Surface Management (EASM) exists: it concentrates on what attackers can see. Without viewing your environment through this external lens, organisations cannot know which access points are visible or exploitable, leaving them unable to proactively detect or prevent threats before incidents occur.
First steps in protecting your attack surface
The first step in ASM is identifying external-facing touchpoints such as public IPs and domains. For instance, you might recognise your primary domain (e.g., mydomain.co.za), but visibility into similar domains, like mydomain.com, mydomain.net, mydomain.tech, or mydomain.ac.za, is also crucial. These can be targeted for domain squatting or cybersquatting, where attackers exploit similar names to mislead users and enable phishing attacks.
A strong ASM solution not only maps your current footprint but also identifies domains worth securing before malicious actors register them.
If a deceptive domain is registered, like mydomain-tech.co.za, you need an effective takedown process. International domain takedowns can be complex, requiring a partner capable of legally liaising with registrars across jurisdictions. With the right procedures and partnerships, such domains can often be removed within four to eight hours, limiting potential damage.
Keeping pace with today’s infrastructure
One of ASM’s biggest challenges is keeping up with the rapid growth and sprawl of modern IT environments. While multiple tools exist, none fully match the speed of change, even as vendors iterate frequently, often in weekly development sprints, to maintain relevant detection capabilities.
Beyond speed, perspective matters. While an organisation may have visibility from one viewpoint, attackers do not limit themselves to a single angle. To defend effectively against modern threats, you need to view your environment as attackers do and understand vulnerabilities exploitable from within. This is where distinguishing between external and internal ASM becomes crucial.
External ASM (EASM) focuses on publicly exposed digital assets, whereas internal ASM addresses vulnerabilities inside the network. Internal ASM uses network exposure activity tools to simulate real-world attack techniques, often following frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK, to identify weaknesses from the inside. These simulations test whether known attack methods bypass security controls, whether sensitive data can be exfiltrated, whether passwords are weak or compromised, and if lateral movement within the network is possible.
Combining internal and external ASM provides a more accurate view of your security posture, allowing organisations to close gaps before exploitation.
Making the business case for ASM
Cost is often a concern with ASM investments, but when weighed against the reputational and financial impact of a breach, or the risk of sensitive data appearing on the dark web, the case for prevention is clear.
The reality is simple. Without a combination of internal and external ASM, organisations remain essentially blind to vulnerabilities. The ability to identify, monitor, and remediate gaps before adversaries exploit them has become a business imperative.
African regulators in Kenya and Ghana are leading the way, strengthening digital asset safety and trust
Integrity360 acquires Redshift in South Africa, boosting cybersecurity services, expertise, and regional expansion
Most Read
-
Qualcomm empowers African tech startups with mentorship. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
- Details
-
Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most active region for mobile money, with East and West Africa seeing the highest growth in registered accounts and monthly usage. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
-
For Ghanaian customers, this license means more efficient and secure money transfers across the country. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
-
GSMA's 2024 report reveals the transformative impact of mobile technology in Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting key challenges and growth opportunities. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
-
By MTN South Sudan and NCA, launching eSIM technology for improved connectivity and customer experience in South Sudan’s telecom industry. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
-
MTN South Africa partners with KnowRoaming to introduce the Travel eSIM, offering cost-effective data roaming across 150+ destinations worldwide. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
-
PalmPay launches USSD code in Nigeria, enabling millions to access financial services without internet, enhancing financial inclusion. (Image source: Palmpay)
- Details
-
Eutelsat Group has a fleet of 35 GEO satellites and a constellation of more than 600 LEO satellites. (Image source: OneWeb)
-
Airtel’s network currently reaches 89% of Kenya’s population. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
-
The introduction of Network One in Nigeria aligns with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s directive for in-country transaction routing, boosting local processing capabilities. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
-
OADC Texaf Digital - Kinshasa, a 2MW open-access, Tier-III data centre, boosts DRC's digital ecosystem with carrier-neutral, sustainable infrastructure. (Image source: Open Access Data Centres)
-
Siemon's new LightStack and LightStack 8 offer cutting-edge ultra-high-density fibre solutions for data centers and enterprise networks, available globally. (Image source: Siemon)
Latest News
-
Standard Bank backs CANAL+ JSE debut
-
Mastercard leadership reshuffle strengthens global customer focus
-
New subsea cable route between France and Tunisia enters service, enhancing digital resilience and capacity.
-
Yas, owned by AXIAN Telecom, advanced eleven places in the Financial Times Africa’s Fastest-Growing Companies 2026 ranking.
-
DE-CIX, Internet pour tous and UNITED S.A. have expanded ACIX into a second Kinshasa data centre to strengthen regional interconnection
-
Uganda approves Starlink operations after signing licensing agreement to boost internet access and digital transformation. (Image source: Ministry of ICT & National Guidence)
-
Apple launches Tap to Pay on iPhone in South Africa
-
Via Africa submarine cable project aims to strengthen network resilience and connectivity diversity across West Africa
-
Telecoming launches DCB Software South Africa to expand AI-driven digital services and telecom partnerships
-
Brady Corporation unveils i4311 portable printer. (Image source: Brady Corporation)
-
MTN Zambia brings 5G smart living home. (Image source: MTN Zambia)
-
The Minister of Communication, Digital Economy, and Innovation, Mourana Soumah. (Image source: MCENI)
-
Vertiv strengthens AI cooling strategy with STL acquisition. (Image source: Vertiv)
-
GSMA Pleias launch African language AI model. (Image source: GSMA)
-
Rössing Uranium deploys LTE towers with MTC. (Image source: Rössing Uranium)
More Articles
Mastercard leadership reshuffle strengthens global customer focus
New subsea cable route between France and Tunisia enters service, enhancing digital resilience and capacity.
Yas, owned by AXIAN Telecom, advanced eleven places in the Financial Times Africa’s Fastest-Growing Companies 2026 ranking.
DE-CIX, Internet pour tous and UNITED S.A. have expanded ACIX into a second Kinshasa data centre to strengthen regional interconnection
Uganda approves Starlink operations after signing licensing agreement to boost internet access and digital transformation. (Image source: Ministry of ICT & National Guidence)
Apple launches Tap to Pay on iPhone in South Africa
Via Africa submarine cable project aims to strengthen network resilience and connectivity diversity across West Africa
Telecoming launches DCB Software South Africa to expand AI-driven digital services and telecom partnerships
Brady Corporation unveils i4311 portable printer. (Image source: Brady Corporation)
MTN Zambia brings 5G smart living home. (Image source: MTN Zambia)
The Minister of Communication, Digital Economy, and Innovation, Mourana Soumah. (Image source: MCENI)
Vertiv strengthens AI cooling strategy with STL acquisition. (Image source: Vertiv)