In a significant development for Africa’s digital transformation journey, Cassava Technologies and AXON Networks have announced a strategic collaboration designed to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence and next-generation network technology across the continent. The partnership, revealed in Cape Town at one of the continent’s most prestigious business gatherings, marks a bold move to reposition Africa’s digital infrastructure for the demands of the AI economy and emerging business needs.
This alliance combines the deep, pan-continental fibre backbone of Cassava Technologies with AXON Networks’ advanced intelligent network platform. Together, the companies will build, deploy, and manage what they call Africa’s first end-to-end Operator-as-a-Service platform, an innovative system expected to redefine how businesses and service providers connect, collaborate, and innovate.
The announcement is already being seen as a turning point for digital infrastructure in Africa, with the potential to unlock new economic pathways and support the growth of AI-driven solutions for enterprises of all sizes.
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Cassava Technologies and AXON Networks’ Strategic Alliance with Far-Reaching Implications
The partnership was made public at the Counder Conference 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, a flagship event that brings together global investors, family offices, and senior corporate decision-makers to explore opportunities in emerging markets. The event provided a compelling backdrop for Cassava and AXON to articulate their joint vision for a future where African businesses can fully participate in a digital economy driven by intelligent connectivity.
Cassava Technologies, a company with roots across Africa and a significant global footprint, is already recognised as a digital infrastructure leader. Through its network of business units — including Cassava AI, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Liquid C2, Africa Data Centres, and Sasai Fintech — Cassava delivers services across 94 countries and continues to push boundaries in providing solutions that enhance connectivity and digital access.
On the other hand, AXON Networks is known for its cutting-edge Digital Twin technology and intelligent network platforms. By using AI-ready, real-time analytics and self-optimising systems, AXON enables networks to become more resilient, efficient, and adaptive to evolving demands.
With this partnership, the companies are combining strengths to create a platform that both modernises infrastructure and supports Africa’s broader AI ambitions.
Under the agreement, AXON’s platform will operate on Cassava’s high-speed fibre backbone, a network spanning tens of thousands of kilometres across Africa, including terrestrial and submarine routes. This combination will enable service providers and customers to leverage a digital ecosystem capable of adapting in real time to changing conditions and demands.
Transforming Connectivity into Intelligent Services
For many businesses across Africa, digital transformation has been limited by traditional infrastructure that is rigid, resource-intensive, and slow to scale. The Operator-as-a-Service solution promises to change this. By moving away from manually configured, hardware-centric systems to a programmable, AI-managed environment, service delivery will become faster, more flexible, and more cost-effective.
Hardy Pemhiwa, President and Group Chief Executive of Cassava Technologies, explained that the new platform will change how networks are managed and delivered. According to his remarks, businesses will be able to provision and adjust network configurations in near real time rather than waiting days or weeks for traditional changes to take effect. This marks a significant improvement for companies that depend on responsive, reliable digital infrastructure for operations and growth.
By integrating AXON’s digital twin capabilities, the partnership goes beyond connecting endpoints to create a dynamic digital ecosystem. This ecosystem will continuously monitor performance, anticipate issues before they arise, and optimise key functions without human intervention. For many African markets, this is a first in terms of the scale and scope of AI-enabled network services.
The combination of high-speed connectivity and intelligent automation is expected to support not only large telecommunications companies but also smaller internet service providers (ISPs), mobile network operators, and even LEO satellite providers. These players will have access to infrastructure that can expand their reach, improve service quality, and accelerate new product deployment.
Empowering Growth and Innovation for African Enterprises
At the heart of this partnership is a shared belief that advanced connectivity and AI technology can power economic growth and help African businesses compete on the global stage. By lowering barriers to entry for AI adoption and providing scalable network services, the platform is expected to benefit organisations of all sizes.
For example, mobile network operators and regional ISPs will have access to secure, high-speed data infrastructure that can support emerging technologies such as cloud-native applications, remote work solutions, and data-rich services that rely on low latency and high reliability. This will be especially important for sectors like fintech, e-commerce, education, and healthcare that increasingly depend on robust digital connectivity to serve customers and stakeholders.
The AI-enabled platform will also be crucial for companies that are exploring advanced digital solutions such as predictive analytics, automation, and machine learning-driven customer experiences. By integrating these capabilities at the infrastructure level, organisations can focus more on innovation and less on managing complex backend systems. This shift is expected to enhance competitiveness and support the emergence of new digital champions within African markets.
Private enterprises, entrepreneurs, and technology startups stand to benefit as well. In a region where access to affordable, high-performance computing has often been a constraint, this partnership signals a shift towards broader accessibility and empowerment. The platform could enable faster deployment of new services, reduce operational costs, and foster a more vibrant ecosystem of digital solutions.
Beyond direct commercial impact, the partnership also has implications for digital sovereignty. By deploying next-generation infrastructure that is managed and operated locally, African nations can reduce dependence on external technologies and service providers. This promotes resilience and supports policy initiatives aimed at local capacity building and technology leadership.
AXON’s CEO and Founder, Martin Manniche, emphasised the significance of Cassava’s footprint and the combined vision to build a truly dynamic, AI-driven ecosystem that benefits people and industries throughout Africa. His remarks highlighted the importance of not only mirroring network functions but transforming them into a living digital system that grows and adapts with usage patterns.
Regional Impact and the Future of Digital Infrastructure
Africa is home to some of the fastest-growing digital markets in the world, driven by increasing mobile penetration, rising online commerce, and expanding demand for cloud services. However, the continent has also faced challenges in building infrastructure that is resilient, adaptable, and aligned with future technology needs. The Cassava-AXON partnership addresses these challenges directly by focusing on intelligent connectivity and AI readiness.
The timing of this announcement is notable. With global interest in Africa’s technology landscape growing, the collaboration signals confidence in the continent’s ability to lead innovation rather than just follow global trends. Investors attending the Counder Conference were told that this infrastructure platform is not just about better internet or faster connections; it is about laying the foundation for the AI economy of tomorrow.
Experts in the tech community have already pointed out that having such an advanced platform could help attract more investment into Africa’s technology sectors. As businesses seek reliable partners to support digital transformation, the availability of AI-ready infrastructure will become an increasingly important factor.
For Nigeria and other African nations, the implications are especially tangible. As companies explore ways to harness AI for local market solutions — whether in agriculture, logistics, education, or financial services — access to this level of infrastructure could significantly reduce the barriers to experimentation and deployment.
Looking ahead, the partnership lays the groundwork for more ambitious initiatives, including potential investments in local AI compute facilities, data-centric services, and developer ecosystems that can leverage the new platform. Cassava’s broader strategy, already visible through collaborations like those with regional AI associations and cloud services partners, provides a context for this move and indicates a long-term commitment to AI growth across Africa.
This new chapter in Africa’s digital story is being watched closely. For many technology leaders and policymakers, the partnership represents a commitment to infrastructure that supports innovation at scale while building local expertise and capacity. The hope is that by integrating connectivity with intelligent systems, African businesses will be able to unlock new opportunities, drive economic growth, and build solutions that address unique challenges across the continent.
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