AI Investments Set Stage for Sustained Telecom Expansion in Africa

As internet penetration across Africa continues its rapid ascent—driven by smartphone adoption and increased digital engagement—experts are emphasizing the critical need for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure investments. Hardy Pemhiwa, CEO and Group President of Cassava Technologies, highlighted this imperative at the recent Africa CEO Forum Annual Summit in Kigali.

“The demand on Africa’s telecom networks will be enormous,” Pemhiwa stated. “We’re already building facilities to carry all that data—it’s essential for enabling our digital revolution.” He noted how transformative it has been, from a time when most Africans had never heard a phone ring to today’s reality of widespread mobile access.

Addressing the Infrastructure Gap

While Africa boasts significant progress in telecoms through mobile networks and undersea cables, experts agree that continued expansion is crucial. Pemhiwa identified data centers, fiber optic infrastructure, and local computing capacity as key priorities for AI adoption across the continent.

Cassava Technologies is actively addressing this gap by:

  • Deploying over 116,000 km of fiber network
  • Constructing renewable energy plants to power digital infrastructure
  • Building data centers across multiple African markets

First AI Factory Operational in South Africa

As part of a $720 million initiative, Cassava has already completed its first AI factory in South Africa—a facility equipped with 3,000 Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs) that will serve as a hub for local AI development. The company plans to establish four additional AI factories in Kenya, Nigeria, Morocco, and Egypt.

This investment aligns with the broader trend of African tech companies seeking to build indigenous AI capabilities rather than relying on foreign solutions.

Ensuring Equitable Access

While coverage gaps are narrowing, ensuring equitable access remains a challenge. Pemhiwa pointed out that demand often exceeds supply, particularly in emerging markets like 5G connectivity. In Nigeria, for example, quality of experience data indicates that most smartphone users cannot consistently connect to the 5G network despite having compatible devices.

As African economies continue their digital transformations, strategic investments in both infrastructure and accessibility will be essential to unlock the full potential of AI-powered telecoms services.