Through its subsidiaries, Africa Data Centres (ADC), Liquid Intelligent Technologies (Liquid), and Liquid C2, Cassava Technologies is making significant strides in capturing a larger share of Africa’s burgeoning tech market.
The company unveiled its ambitious plans during the Africa IT Festival 2024, held in Cape Town last week, highlighting its role in addressing the continent’s digital infrastructure challenges.
Deon Geyser, CEO of Liquid SA, emphasized the importance of investment-friendly regulatory frameworks to drive digital infrastructure development., he belaboured the need for long-term policy stability to attract investors.
“My view is that the first step is having the right investment-friendly policy framework. No one is going to invest in long-term programmes if policies are not friendly,” Geyser noted. He explained that infrastructure projects require extended planning and funding cycles, making a stable policy environment critical for success.
Geyser also highlighted Liquid’s focus on leveraging public-private partnerships (PPPs) to expand its reach. Liquid recently renewed its partnership with the Western Cape Provincial Government, committing over $111 million to a seven-year project.
“PPP models open up other opportunities for governments to create efficiencies,” Geyser said, citing the potential for digital citizen services and automated government processes as a result of improved connectivity.
Since rebranding from Liquid Telecom to Liquid Intelligent Technologies in 2021, the company has expanded into cloud computing, cybersecurity, and managed network services, aligning its offerings with market demands.
Vinay Hiralall, Liquid C2’s Chief Commercial Officer, showcased how the company is bringing Microsoft Azure Stack to Africa. This initiative addresses data sovereignty concerns by ensuring data remains within national borders.
“Azure Stack infrastructure keeps data within countries, which is driving adoption,” Hiralall said. He highlighted East Africa, particularly Uganda, as a strong adopter of edge computing due to increased tech awareness and cybersecurity concerns.
Hiralall also revealed Liquid’s plans to deploy Azure Stack infrastructure across Africa, tailoring solutions to meet specific industry needs such as fintech. “We are starting to see high demand in West Africa, not just driven by data sovereignty, but also by industry-specific needs,” he added.
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ADC Interim CEO Finhai Munzara discussed Africa’s vast potential in the data centre sector during a fireside chat on co-location trends. He outlined a three-pronged strategy to address power and infrastructure challenges: improving efficiency, adopting renewable energy sources, and fostering partnerships with fibre and power companies.
Munzara also explored the role of artificial intelligence in optimizing data centre operations and identified barriers such as limited power access and data sovereignty issues.
Cassava Technologies’ active participation at the Africa IT Festival underscores its commitment to shaping Africa’s digital future. Through investments in infrastructure, strategic partnerships, and innovative solutions like Azure Stack, the company is positioning itself as a leader in driving technological advancement across the continent.
