The LuLu Coastal Cable System the Kenyan coast’s first fully protected coastal cable system, has been announced at this week’s ITW Africa digital infrastructure and connectivity event, held in Nairobi.

LuLu is a submarine cable designed to strengthen connectivity along Kenya’s 500 kilometre Indian Ocean coast, linking five strategic landing points from Mombasa to Lamu, including Vipingo Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Kilifi and Malindi.

It is an integrated system combining a submarine cable running along the Indian Ocean seabed with a parallel, protected terrestrial pathway. The developers of the system say that this dual-path protection architecture – submarine and terrestrial running in parallel – delivers the levels of resilience that international cable systems, data centre operators, and enterprise customers require as a baseline operating condition.

It is to be co-developed by INDOI (IOX), a Mauritius-headquartered ICT infrastructure developer, Blue Trade Investments Limited, a Kenyan investment company, ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms, which designs, finances, conceives and operates industrial ecosystems across Africa, advisory company AfriTrade Consulting Group, and Kingdom Bank, a subsidiary of the Co-operative Bank of Kenya.

The system will use DWDM technology in the 1550nm window, with 144 fibre pairs and a design capacity of up to 60 Tbps per fibre pair. It is designed for a 25-year operational life, with centralised network management, and is expected to be ready for service in Q2 2028, subject to contract execution.

Blue Trade, INDOI’s Kenya-registered infrastructure partner, is the designated cable landing party, regulatory interface, and operational delivery partner for LuLu in Kenya. Blue Trade says its established relationships with Kenya’s regulatory authorities, coastal communities, and government institutions provide the critical local foundation upon which INDOI’s regional infrastructure vision is built and sustained.

The LuLu landing at Vipingo SEZ is described as the catalyst for a broader transformation. The partners say that direct submarine cable connectivity within the SEZ boundary unlocks investment categories that manufacturing infrastructure alone cannot attract: hyperscale data centres, cloud service provider regional nodes, fintech and payment processing platforms, cybersecurity operations centres, and IoT-driven smart manufacturing services, to name only a few.

LuLu’s Mombasa landing will connect the entire coastal system to the global internet backbone from day one giving every LuLu landing station, and every tenant and operator these stations serve, seamless access to existing submarine cables landed in Mombasa and beyond.

As news service SubTel Forum notes, however, the information so far released does not name a system supplier, construction start, route-survey schedule or completed contracts.

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Algeria’s Ministry of Post and Telecommunications has announced the launch of plans to bring telecommunications services to 3,000 areas across the country, with a view to strengthening national coverage.

The ministry this week launched a call for tenders. Regulator ARPCE calls this operation, « the largest of its kind in this field », and states that it will benefit 3,000 localities throughout the country’s wilayas (administrative divisions), especially areas with low population density (fewer than 2,000 inhabitants).

This is to be a state-financed operation and part of broader efforts to expand telecom access and promote digital inclusion, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas. Telecom service providers ae being invited to submit their offers to ensure coverage and provide services in these areas to help reduce the digital divide. The country’s service providers include Djezzy, Ooredoo and Mobilis. Whoever wins the tender will be asked to deliver services within a period not exceeding 18 months.

News service Ecofin points out that the initiative comes as authorities complete a similar but smaller mobile coverage programme designed to bring 4G coverage to 1,400 communities across the country’s 58 wilayas and expand access to mobile phone and Internet services.

It appears that Algeria already has near-universal mobile network coverage. According to data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 2G covered the entire population in 2025, while both 3G and 4G networks reached 99.1%. 5G remains in its early stages.

However, reliance on telecoms is, it seems, growing. Ecofin says more public and private services are moving online, including administrative procedures, financial services, education, health and commerce.

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Data centre company HyperVault, a subsidiary of Indian technology group Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), says it has secured 264 acres of land to develop a large-scale AI data centre campus of up to 1GW capacity in Hyderabad.

HyperVault says the Hyderabad AI data centre campus will be purpose-built to serve the needs of frontier AI companies and hyperscalers, enabling high-density GPU deployments for AI training, inference and advanced computing workloads.

The precise timeline for the development has not yet been revealed. However, the company says the development of the data centre campus will be executed in a phased manner, in line with customer demand and technology requirements.

It adds that at full build-out, the campus is expected to rank among the most advanced and largest AI infrastructure campuses in India. The campus will also leverage green energy and water-neutral design principles as part of the build-out. 

Beyond the campus, the project is expected to catalyse India’s AI infrastructure ecosystem across power, cooling, networking, construction, engineering and operations. The project will generate several thousand direct and indirect jobs in the region. HyperVault and its partners are expected to invest up to Rs 70,000 crore (about US$7.4 billion) to build and manage this infrastructure.

K Krithivasan, CEO & MD, TCS, says” “HyperVault advances TCS’ infrastructure-to-intelligence strategy by bringing together AI-ready infrastructure with our cloud, engineering, enterprise transformation and AI capabilities. Hyderabad offers the scale, talent and ecosystem to serve global customers.”

[Munich, September 2, 2026] Huawei kicked off its « Chase the Wild » global innovative product launch event today at SHOWPALAST Munich, Germany. Huawei unveiled a sweeping portfolio of new flagship devices across four key categories: smart wearables, tablets, smartphones, and audio. The event underscored Huawei’s commitment to seamlessly integrating intelligent technology into everyday life, empowering users to pursue their passions with freedom and vitality.

The event’s « Chase the Wild » theme captured Huawei’s vision of technology as a catalyst for raw energy, bold exploration, and personal expression. Wild is chill vitality—to gallop freely, to venture boldly. Wild is tech for all—an invisible power beside you. Wild is the spark of passion, joy, and untamed self-expression. The company emphasized that its latest products are designed to become natural extensions of the users’ lives, whether they are exploring the outdoors, documenting their adventures, or unlocking new creative potential.

Taking center stage, the HUAWEI WATCH GT 7 Series redefines the sports smartwatch category with comprehensive upgrades across design, outdoor sports capabilities, health management, and battery life. The Series features the new EasyCross strap. The GT 7 model is available in 46 mm and 41 mm editions with eight color options, while the GT 7 Pro offers three colorways and incorporates a nano-tech ceramic bezel and titanium alloy middle frame for enhanced durability. For sports enthusiasts, the GT 7 Series introduces industry-first wrist-based turn detection and G-Force detection, alongside new indoor snow sports mode and outdoor ski mapping covering more than 3,000 resorts worldwide. Cycling features now include route planning for climbing, slope alerts, and sharp-turn warnings, plus AI-powered cycling insights (not yet available in Europe). On the health front, the upgraded Health Insights offers new features like Physical Readiness scoring and smart health analysis, delivering clearer, more actionable wellness recommendations.

After a one-year hiatus, the all-round smart flagship HUAWEI WATCH 6 Series makes its European comeback. Highlighting high-intelligence design, advanced workout modes, and AI-driven workout analysis, the watch supports independent calling, navigation, and payment functions. Enhanced Health Glance , Health Insights , and Healthy Living features make proactive health management more intuitive than ever.

Huawei also officially launched the HUAWEI WATCH D3, a next-generation blood pressure monitor that has secured European CE-MDR medical certification. The device now supports pre- and post-exercise blood pressure measurement, along with smart blood pressure measurement reminders, delivering more comprehensive wrist-based blood pressure management. This marks a significant step forward for Huawei in the field of digital health management.

For productivity and creativity, Huawei introduced the HUAWEI MatePad Pro 12-inch, a flagship tablet measuring just 4.7 mm thin and weighing 454 grams. It features a 12-inch flexible OLED PaperMatte Display, paired with AI speech-to-text conversion, AI handwriting enhancement, and stylus air gestures, enabling users to create effortlessly anytime, anywhere. In terms of audio devices, Huawei launched the HUAWEI FreeBuds Neo Series, engineered for the modern lifestyle, with a fresh design and immersive sound. In smartphones, the HUAWEI nova 16s series made its debut, delivering a refreshed experience highlighted by exceptional portrait photography capabilities.

To close the event, Huawei announced the global opening of its « GoPaint » Worldwide Creating Activity 2026, which this year adds a new « Easy Creation » category to encourage broader participation in artistic expression. Huawei reaffirmed its ongoing mission to serve global consumers with cutting-edge innovation, exploring how technology can become an ever-present companion in the pursuit of passion and discovery.

Safaricom Ethiopia has surpassed 15 million 90-day active subscribers, less than four years after launching commercial services in the country.

The operator received its unified telecom licence from the Ethiopian government in July 2021 and began commercial operations in October 2022, entering a market previously dominated by state-owned Ethio Telecom.

Safaricom Ethiopia has deployed more than 3,500 network sites since entering the market, with its network now reaching around 60% of the country’s population. The operator said all of its sites are 4G-enabled and 5G-ready.

The subscriber milestone comes as Safaricom Ethiopia moves towards financial breakeven following several years of investment in network infrastructure, technology and distribution.

The operator said increased competition following Ethiopia’s telecoms liberalisation has contributed to wider connectivity, faster internet speeds, increased data usage and growth in digital payments.

Safaricom Ethiopia is part of the Vodafone-backed Safaricom group, which entered Ethiopia as part of the country’s efforts to liberalise its telecoms market and attract private investment.

This Industry Viewpoint was authored by Biju Anidil, Regional VP Sales, EMEA & APAC, Evergent

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Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Digital Transition and Technological Innovation (MTNIT) says it has signed a strategic partnership agreement with French AI solutions company Mistral to help develop an AI ecosystem adapted to the country’s specific requirements.

Under the agreement – which was signed last month but publicly announced on Tuesday – MTNIT and Mistral are conducting a strategic study and audit to map out the players and available resources for an AI ecosystem, as well as evaluating existing data and infrastructures, and identifying areas where AI could provide concrete use cases serving the needs of the government, companies and populations.

Ideally, the audit will form the basis for an operational roadmap that will define the conditions for deploying AI solutions and allow the emergence of “high-impact” pilot projects.

The ministry said the study focuses on several priority sectors, including public administration, health, education, agriculture and services to the population.

As part of the project, Mistral is working with Artefact Côte d’Ivoire, a local entity of the Artefact group specialising in data and AI consulting, who will provide technological and local expertise.

MTNIT said in a post on social media site X that the Mistral partnership will contribute to the AI pillar of the government’s Digital Roadmap 2026-2028, which includes 40 structuring projects.

The audit is expected to be completed in time for MTNIT’s « IMPACT IA » conference next week in Abidjan.

Teltronic, a Spanish company with more than 50 years of experience in the critical communications sector, says it will be supplying a 4G broadband communications network for national rail company EFE Trenes de Chile.

The broadband communications system will provide data transmission services for two new lines that will connect the capital city, Santiago de Chile, with the nearby towns of Melipilla and Batuco, as part of a project awarded by the Chilean railway operator to Siemens Mobility.

The project includes the implementation of the country’s first ETCS (European Train Control System) Level 2 system, an in-cab digital signalling system that uses continuous radio communication to guide trains safely without relying on traditional physical lineside signals.

Siemens Mobility has entrusted Teltronic with the deployment of a private 4G network that will provide coverage along the 87 kilometres of new railway lines. However, as Teltronic explains, the system is 5G ready, meaning that it can evolve to 5G technology through a simple software upgrade. In addition, the infrastructure includes two control nodes, one primary and one redundant, to ensure system robustness.

Teltronic says it will also equip the 32 new trains that will operate on the lines with its RTP-800, a state-of-the-art radio that will enable continuous train-to-ground data transmission. The onboard solution is completed by the DCD7 touch-screen console, which has been designed to meet the stringent requirements of railway environments and allows train drivers to operate the radio controls.

The system, which is also prepared to support voice communications, will be integrated with a passenger information system, a public address system and the CCTV network, whose images will be transmitted in real time. It will also support Level 2 ETCS which, says Teltronic, means it will play a key role in the safe and efficient operation of the trains.