This facility represents Raxio’s fifth data centre in its expanding portfolio and is the third one to open in 2024.

The data centre has earned Tier III certification from the Uptime Institute, positioning Raxio to significantly contribute to the country’s growing digital landscape.

CIV1 is Côte d’Ivoire’s first Tier III certified carrier-neutral and cloud-neutral data centre.
It is set to boost the country’s data consumption and local content creation in the rapidly expanding digital economy of Francophone West Africa.

Equipped with the latest technology, CIV1 has the capacity to house up to 800 racks and provide 3MW of IT power, making it a critical infrastructure in the region.

The launch also marks Raxio’s entry into West Africa, positioning Abidjan as a strategic hub for the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), which includes countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal.

The facility will cater to the banking sector and other industries requiring secure and efficient data storage solutions.

Raxio Group’s CEO, Robert Mullins, emphasized the significance of this expansion, stating, “The launch of our Abidjan data centre solidifies our presence in West Africa, a key area for our continued growth.

Abidjan is an ideal location for businesses from across the region to collocate their mission-critical infrastructure in a secure, reliable environment. We are proud to play a part in Côte d’Ivoire’s digital progress and enhance its regional prominence.”

Located approximately 30 kilometers from Abidjan’s city center within the Village of Innovation and Technology (VITIB), CIV1 is equipped with multiple power and fibre pathways, ensuring uninterrupted service.

The facility also boasts advanced redundant systems to meet Tier III standards. In addition, it hosts the country’s Internet Exchange Point (CIVIX), providing a cost-effective platform for both local and international traffic interconnection.

The toolkit was developed following a comprehensive study aimed at identifying the practical needs for startups to successfully enter these key markets.

It focuses on critical sectors, including agriculture, education, financial services, health, and manufacturing.

The digital toolkit provides a range of outputs, tools, and guides tailored to support entrepreneurs navigating these diverse markets.

It has undergone validation through feedback sessions to ensure it effectively addresses entrepreneurs’ needs.

Additionally, the toolkit serves as a model for future initiatives aimed at expanding access to other markets across Africa.

Jordan Kyongo, Head of the East Africa Research and Innovation Hub at the British High Commission Nairobi, emphasized the importance of this initiative in easing market entry barriers for African entrepreneurs.

“This exercise was critical in understanding the requirements for entrepreneurs to enter different markets in the region. We are confident that this digital toolkit will be an instrument in growing Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” he stated.

The toolkit addresses challenges that entrepreneurs face across the continent, particularly regarding the complexity of regulatory requirements, certifications, and tariffs.

Entrepreneurs often need to navigate 55 different licensing systems across Africa, creating significant hurdles for market expansion. The toolkit seeks to simplify these processes, providing much-needed clarity and support.

This collaboration aims to expand the availability of sustainable charging infrastructure, enabling the faster and more efficient growth of Ampersand’s electric motorcycle fleet across East Africa.

Founded in 2016, Ampersand focuses on assembling and financing electric motorcycles that are more affordable and efficient than the traditional petrol-powered alternatives.

With over five million petrol motorcycles operating in East Africa, Ampersand’s electric vehicles present a greener and more cost-effective solution.

Since launching commercially in May 2019, the company has grown its fleet to more than 3,400 electric motorcycles, with plans to exceed 10,000 by the end of 2024.

The partnership with CrossBoundary Energy will provide renewable electricity at a lower tariff for charging Ampersand’s electric motorcycles, supporting the company’s rapid and sustainable scaling efforts.

Ampersand will handle battery maintenance and manage its charging stations, while CrossBoundary Energy will pilot financing and owning the charging infrastructure and batteries at one of Ampersand’s swap stations in Nairobi.

The pilot phase will feature 36 electric charging units and 150 lithium-ion batteries, powered by a 37kWp solar photovoltaic (PV) system.

The solar-powered setup will ensure affordable, clean energy for Ampersand’s electric motorbikes, further reducing carbon emissions in the region.

CrossBoundary Energy, known for its expertise in delivering distributed renewable energy solutions, sees this partnership as an entry point into the e-mobility sector.

“This launch is exciting for many reasons – firstly, it marks the start of CrossBoundary Energy’s foray into the e-mobility sector, where we aim to accelerate private investment and drive growth. Secondly, working with Ampersand, a partner with a proven track record and ambitious plans for East Africa, allows us to contribute significantly to their scaling efforts,” said Tombo Banda, Managing Director and Head of CrossBoundary’s Innovation Lab.

The expansion aims to bolster Kofa’s battery-swapping network, offering affordable and reliable electricity to customers.

Kofa has partnered with impact investor PASH Global to establish the SPV, which is backed by a GBP2.35 million (US$3 million) commitment from Shell Foundation and the UK Government’s Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform.

This partnership will support the deployment of 6,000 batteries and up to 100 swap stations across Ghana.

The battery-swapping network will provide clean energy for electric two-wheelers, small businesses, and homes, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Kofa will focus on managing the battery network, while PASH will oversee operational maintenance and deployment of swap stations.

“This initiative is a significant step towards cleaner, more sustainable energy solutions in Ghana,” said Erik Nygard, CEO of Kofa Technologies.

“With the support of our partners, we are building a foundation that will benefit local communities and businesses.”

The expansion is part of Kofa’s broader goal to create a sustainable energy future in West Africa. The startup has also announced plans to expand its operations to Kenya and Togo.

The company’s Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs, Cornel Osigwe, confirmed the development.

Osigwe shared a video of himself test-driving the new electric vehicle, marking a milestone in IVM’s journey towards sustainable transportation.

While specific details about the vehicle’s pricing, specifications, and commercial release timeline remain undisclosed, the announcement is a major boost for Nigeria’s growing electric vehicle market.

Innoson’s entry into the electric vehicle space comes as the country faces rising fuel prices and increasing interest in cleaner transportation options.

The government’s ambitious target of having 30% of all vehicles electric by 2025 has further spurred the development of the electric vehicle industry in Nigeria.

As the country continues to embrace electric mobility, Innoson’s locally produced electric vehicle could play a significant role in reducing dependence on fossil fuels and promoting sustainable transportation.

This expansion brings the total number of hubs within the network to 496, spread across 261 cities in 53 African nations.

The newly admitted hubs represent a diverse range of regions and sectors, strengthening AfriLabs’ presence across the continent.

Notable additions include the SU LaunchLab in Stellenbosch, South Africa, marking AfriLabs’ first presence in the city.

Other notable additions include ScaleUp Namibia, OceanHub Africa, and the Graca Machel Trust’s Women Creating Wealth initiative in Southern Africa.

In North Africa, DigiArtLivingLab (DALL) has joined the network in Tunis and Nabeul, Tunisia, alongside Connect’Innov and The Dot.

Egypt has also welcomed PTS Investments Holdings and Aria Ventures to its network.

Western Africa has seen the addition of Mswitch in Abuja, Nigeria, while Eastern Africa has welcomed AFRICA TECH SPACE in Nakuru, Kenya; Owl Innovation Labs in Nairobi, Kenya; RLabs Tanzania in Iringa, Tanzania; and AfriFORTIFIED HUB in Kisumu, Kenya.

Central Africa has expanded its network with Ovation and KIVUTECH in Kinshasa and Bukavu, DRC, respectively; Revival Innovation Hub in Bua, Cameroon; and DIAMBILAY BUSINESS CENTER in Lubumbashi, DR Congo.

“We are thrilled to welcome these new hubs to our growing community,” said Mayssa Mrabet, AfriLabs director of community.

“Their unique perspectives and contributions will further strengthen our ability to drive innovation and entrepreneurship across the continent.”

The collaboration grants Liquid exclusive rights to sell and distribute Globalstar’s XCOM RAN private network 5G access solution in these markets.

This innovative technology is poised to revolutionize industries, particularly mining in Africa, by enhancing the 5G experience and supporting AI-driven applications.

Strive Masiyiwa, founder and chairman of Liquid Intelligent Technologies, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, highlighting the potential for providing large enterprises like mines with their own 5G private networks capable of supporting advanced services such as AI.

Liquid will offer comprehensive customer support for Globalstar’s products and services, including technical assistance and warranty coverage.

The partnership also explores potential expansion into Globalstar’s satellite, Band n53 spectrum, and IoT solutions.

Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, CEO of Globalstar, emphasized the significant market potential for their technology in the regions served by Liquid.

He highlighted the unique capabilities of the XCOM RAN product in enabling mission-critical wireless applications, particularly when combined with Globalstar’s n53 midband spectrum.

The partnership aims to accelerate the deployment of advanced wireless technology across Africa, the Middle East, and the Gulf.

The historic journey, which took place between August 7 and 11, 2024, transported 96 passengers between Lagos and Cotonou.

This achievement underscores Treepz’s commitment to providing innovative and reliable transportation solutions across Africa.

The company has consistently been at the forefront of the mobility sector, having transported over 5 million passengers within its existing markets of Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda through its rental marketplace.

Onyeka Akumah, Founder and CEO of Treepz, expressed pride in the company’s accomplishment.

“This is a momentous occasion for Treepz. We are excited to be pioneers in cross-border transportation and to demonstrate our capacity to meet the growing demand for efficient mobility solutions across Africa,” Akumah said.

The round trip, covering nearly 1400 kilometers, involved a fleet of five well-maintained buses equipped with insurance, tracking, and communication systems to ensure passenger safety and comfort.

Beyond cross-border rentals, Treepz offers a comprehensive suite of corporate mobility services, including employee transportation, event logistics, airport transfers, and school bus shuttles.

This latest achievement solidifies Treepz’s position as a leading player in the African mobility industry, setting a new standard for cross-border transportation services.