Alan

Liquid Dataport, a business of Cassava Technologies, a pan-African technology group, today announced it has launched the first terrestrial fibre connecting Mombasa to Johannesburg. This new route, including a breakthrough and unique fibre link across DRC between Goma and Kananga, provides multiple landlocked countries with extra redundancy, resilience, connectivity to numerous data centres and cloud resources, and, most significantly, an alternative option in the event of a subsea cable outage between Kenya and South Africa.

“Cassava Technologies is committed to making digital inclusion a reality on the African continent. This milestone achieved by Liquid Dataport reiterates our commitment to a digitally connected future that leaves no African behind through our continuous investments towards improving and expanding our digital infrastructure. This route will not only bring increased access to high-speed connectivity, but will also improve lives and allow businesses to create and sustain millions of jobs,” says Hardy Pemhiwa, President and Group CEO of Cassava Technologies.

The exponential demand for connectivity directly results from the increasing adoption of digital technologies by enterprises across the continent. Consequently, there is an urgent need for service providers and international carriers like Liquid Dataport to cater to this growing demand seamlessly. This route that will connect South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the DRC is yet another testament to Liquid Dataport's commitment to improving access to digital services for everyone in Africa dramatically. 

Commenting on the launch of this new route, David Eurin, CEO of Liquid Dataport, said, “This is the first terrestrial-only cable connecting Mombasa to Johannesburg via DRC. It is the result of our significant fibre infrastructure investments in several countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, DRC, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. With this new route, we are able to provide our existing and future customers access to an intelligent network with increased resilience and low latency. It not only provides redundancy but was designed to provide additional capacity to the landlocked countries on the route with direct access to cloud resources on the African continent and beyond”.

This route offers hyperscalers, enterprises and wholesale carriers direct connectivity to data centres in Johannesburg and Nairobi. Investments on the Equiano sea cable and significant capacity on the PEACE and 2Africa undersea fibre cables together with its extensive terrestrial cross-border fibre brodband network ensures that Liquid's customers benefit from low-cost international capacity landing on both the Kenyan and South African shores wherever they need it on the Continent. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Liquid Intelligent Technologies.

About Liquid Intelligent Technologies:
Liquid Intelligent Technologies is a business of Cassava Technologies, a pan-African technology group serving customers in over 25 countries in Africa. Liquid has firmly established itself as the leading provider of pan-African digital infrastructure with a 100,000km-long fibre broadband network and satellite connectivity that provides high-speed access to the Internet anywhere in Africa. Liquid is also leveraging its digital network to provide Cloud and Cyber Security solutions through strategic partnerships with leading global players. Liquid is a comprehensive technology solutions group that provides customised digital solutions to public and private sector enterprises and SMEs across the continent. https://www.Liquid.Tech/ 

Media files

Download logo

Download logo

As part of the Western Cape Government's drive to create opportunities for youth employment, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), together with 12 employers in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector hosted a recruitment drive at the Athlone stadium on Friday, 12 May 2023, to bring employment opportunities closer to where young job seekers live.

Unemployed youth, between the ages of 18 and 34 with a grade 12 or equivalent qualification were interviewed by operators, which will be employing 1 000 of those interviewed in the BPO sector.

“The BPO sector is a vibrant and growing sector of the Western Cape's economy, with Cape Town and the Western Cape recognised as the leading location in South Africa for global business services delivery” said Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger. 

The event is the first of five to be held in the 2023/24 financial year, bringing the number of opportunities offered to 5 000 over the year.

Successful candidates will receive a 12-month on-the-job learnership within a BPO company, including a monthly stipend. After completing the programme, each beneficiary will receive an accredited qualification, equivalent to a NQF level 3.

Minister Wenger continued: “I had the pleasure of meeting with some of the applicants as well as the companies present at the drive at the Athlone Stadium on Friday and what struck me was the hope and enthusiasm in all who I met. The fact is that far too many young people struggle to find work which is why the Western cape Government works with the private sector to create more opportunities for our young residents.”

This project is a partnership between DEDAT and BPO operators, as well as the National Treasury's Job Fund and Cape Town College.

“What is truly impressive is that 80% of those who complete the programme are transitioned into a formal job, giving them the opportunity to live a life they value, to support themselves and their families. We will continue to partner with key stakeholders in the private sector so we can help create many more opportunities for those wishing to find work in the province.” Concluded Minister Wenger.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Government.