Author: Akin Naphtal

OpenAI has broadened access to its powerful image-generation tool, making it available to all users, a feature that was previously restricted to paying subscribers. The move was announced by CEO Sam Altman in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “ChatGPT mage gen now rolled out to all free users!” Altman stated . While the exact number of free-tier image generations remains unspecified, Altman previously suggested that non-paying users might be limited to three images per day. Surging Demand and AI CapabilitiesSince its launch, OpenAI’s image-generation tool has witnessed a surge in demand, with Altman humorously remarking that the high usage…

Digital Realty has officially opened FRA18, a state-of-the-art data centre located within the former Neckermann headquarters in Frankfurt, making it Germany’s first data centre housed in a historically preserved building. Situated within the Digital Park Fechenheim campus, FRA18 offers 8,200 square metres of colocation space and an IT capacity of 16 megawatts (MW), designed to support high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) workloads. The centre opens with an initial capacity of 6.4MW, with 9.6MW planned for future phases. The facility features advanced liquid cooling technology and integrates ServiceFabric™, enabling customers to access SCION (Scalability, Control, and Isolation On Next-Generation…

Emma Theofelus, recently reappointed as Namibia’s Minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by President H.E. Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, is a pioneering leader shaping the nation’s digital future. Her tenure is marked by a commitment to advancing government communications and fostering national digital transformation. Born on March 28, 1996, Theofelus made history as the youngest woman government minister in both Namibia and Africa. Her journey in public service began in 2020 when, at just 23 years old, she was appointed Deputy Minister of ICT, making her Namibia’s youngest Member of Parliament and Africa’s youngest minister. In this role, she played…

Paystack, a leading payment technology company, has unveiled Zap, its first consumer-focused application designed to make bank transfers faster and more convenient. The company’s CEO, Sola Akinlade, announced the launch during a special event Unlike traditional neo-banks, Zap allows users to link their existing bank accounts to facilitate quick transfers. According to Akinlade, the app was developed to ensure bank transfers are completed in under 30 seconds, focusing solely on enhancing transfer speed and efficiency. “We wanted to create a product that allows Nigerians to start and finish bank transfers in under 30 seconds,” Akinlade explained during the launch event.…

Rack Centre, a leading carrier-neutral data center operator, is set to commission its new 12-megawatt Lagos data hub on April 10, 2025, in a move that marks a significant milestone for West Africa’s digital infrastructure. The $120 million Tier III facility, known as LGS2, will expand Rack Centre’s capacity to meet the increasing demand for data services in Nigeria and across the region. The commissioning ceremony will host Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, among other key industry stakeholders. The LGS2 data centre will add 3,240 square meters of white…

Visa has announced plans to establish a data center infrastructure in Nigeria, reinforcing its commitment to supporting the country’s growing digital economy. The announcement was made during a courtesy visit to the State House in Abuja by Mr. Andrew Torre, Visa’s Regional President for Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA). Torre highlighted Visa’s substantial investments in Nigeria and its plans to introduce advanced technologies to enhance digital payment solutions. “Visa has been making investments and will continue to make these investments in Nigeria. The planned data center infrastructure will bring new technologies that will strengthen the…

Open Access Data Centres (OADC), a subsidiary of the WIOCC Group, has announced plans to expand its Lagos data center to 24 megawatts by 2027, a project estimated to cost $240 million. The expansion is part of a broader $500 million investment plan, first unveiled in 2021, to develop data centre infrastructure across Africa. Located in Lekki, OADC’s Lagos facility serves as the landing station for Google’s Equiano subsea cable in Nigeria. The data center, which became operational two months ago, is currently running at 1.5 megawatts of its planned capacity. The company plans to complete the expansion in phases,…

At the core of Dar es Salaam, a new chapter in Tanzania’s digital development is emerging. Wing Africa, a leader in the continent’s digital transformation, has unveiled the second phase of its state-of-the-art data centre—an ambitious $50 million investment poised to reshape the nation’s technological landscape. At the launch ceremony held in the bustling Mbezi Industrial Area, Wing Africa CEO Anton Volianskyi emphasized the facility’s strategic importance in meeting Africa’s growing demand for advanced data processing and cloud services. The new Tier 3 data center, now the most connected in Tanzania, links with 13 operators and is designed to deliver…

Google’s newly established cloud region in Johannesburg represents an R2.5-billion ($137m+) investment into South Africa, marking a significant milestone in the continent’s digital and technological landscape. The scale of the investment was highlighted by South African data management and analytics company Tregter, which praised the development as a transformative leap for both South Africa and the wider African continent. “This infrastructure investment marks a giant step forward in business and technology transformation, not only for South Africa but for the entire continent,” said Ferdinand Steenkamp, Tregter’s co-founder. “With this new cloud region, Africa now has access to the best data…

Verizon has introduced Verizon Business Assistant, an AI-powered text messaging tool designed to help small businesses automate customer interactions and enhance customer engagement. The new tool provides instant responses to common customer queries, learns from interactions over time, and seamlessly connects customers to a live employee when necessary. Verizon says the tool aims to deliver faster, more efficient customer service while reducing the need for human involvement. Key features of Verizon Business Assistant include: -Automated responses to frequently asked questions-Live employee handoff for complex inquiries-Continuous learning to improve accuracy over time-Support for both SMS and MMS messagingAn insights dashboard to…