Building Digital Foundations for Africa’s Growing Internet Population

As internet penetration across Africa continues its rapid expansion, fueled by smartphone adoption and increased digital engagement, industry leaders are emphasizing the critical need for 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.

“25 years ago, 70% of Africans had never heard a phone ring,” Pemhiwa noted, contrasting that with today’s reality of widespread mobile access and multiple SIM cards per user. “The future demand on our telecom networks will be enormous, and we’re already building the facilities to carry all this data.”

Addressing Africa’s Infrastructure Gap

While mobile phones and undersea cables have powered much of Africa’s connectivity revolution, Pemhiwa argues that expanding digital infrastructure is now essential. “We need what I call ‘digital plumbing’—the pipes and systems that can handle the increasing flow of data,” he explained.

Cassava Technologies is actively addressing this gap through investments in:

• Data centers
• AI computing infrastructure
• Fiber optic networks (over 116,000 km laid to date)
• Renewable energy plants for telecom operations

Leading the Way with AI Factories

The company’s first AI factory in South Africa, already completed, will utilize 3,000 Nvidia GPUs to process data locally—reducing reliance on international servers. Plans are underway to build four additional facilities in Kenya, Nigeria, Morocco, and Egypt as part of a $720 million project.

This investment aligns with a broader trend across Africa’s telecom landscape, where companies like MTN, Airtel, Vodacom, and Orange are competing to expand network coverage while grappling with accessibility challenges. Pemhiwa emphasized that ensuring equitable access remains the next frontier in Africa’s digital journey.