Liquid Signs MOU with Zambia to Accelerate Country’s Digital Transformation

Liquid Signs MOU with Zambia to Accelerate Country’s Digital Transformation

Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a business of Cassava Technologies, a leading pan-African technology group, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Zambia to accelerate the country’s digital transformation and provide reliable and affordable connectivity to all Zambians.

The agreement builds on Liquid’s already extensive investments made since it opened its doors in Zambia in 2011. In the MOU, Liquid Zambia has committed to launching a new data center that can respond to increasing data-hosting needs from local businesses and hyper scalers establishing their presence in Zambia.

The planned expansion of Liquid’s fiber network will see the connection of more towns across the country, and the physical infrastructure needed to connect schools and clinics along Liquid’s network will also be deployed.

The group will also be working with the government to offer public and private cloud, and cyber security solutions to support the digitization of government services.

These activities and investments, coupled with further expansion of the network across Zambia’s borders will position Zambia as a strong hub of digital activity in the region.

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According to the Zambia Inclusive Digital Economy Status Report 2022, only 53% of Zambians are digitally-included. The lack of connectivity and the impact it has on the country’s socioeconomic development is the main reason why the Zambian government has prioritized the country’s digital transformation.

“We recognize the significant efforts that the Zambian government is making to accelerate the country’s digital transformation and share His Excellency, President Hichilema’s vision for the development of Zambia’s digital economy. Given the conducive investment environment, we are committed to further investments in Zambia’s digital infrastructure” said Hardy Pemhiwa, President and Group CEO, of Cassava Technologies.

“The Liquid Zambia team is excited to be continuing our partnership with the Zambian government. Zambia is our home, and we are committed to seeing the country thrive. Being able to contribute meaningfully to its socio-economic growth and infrastructural development by sharing our knowledge and skills, and through the provision of the infrastructure and services needed by Zambian in this growth phase is important to us,” said Mark Townsend, Chief Executive Officer of Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Zambia.

The MOU was signed by Hon. Felix Mutati, Zambia’s Minister of Technology and Science, and Nic Rudnick, Group Deputy Chairman of Liquid Intelligent Technologies, on Tuesday, the 7th of March, during the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), which took place in Doha, Qatar, from the 5th to the 9th of March.

With the signing of this MOU, Liquid Zambia reaffirms its commitment to Zambia’s digital transformation and economic growth, which is part of its broader mission to connect Africa and bridge the digital divide across the continent, leaving no African left behind.

Additionally, Cassava Technologies which is the parent company of Liquid Technologies has also pledged a total of R4.5 billion in investment in South Africa through its business units – Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Africa Data Centres, and Distributed Power Africa.

The announcement was made during the fifth South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) in support of SA President Cyril Ramaphosa’s initiative to drive investment into the country,

Through this investment, Cassava, which has operations in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the USA, and  Latin America, will continue to bring internationally recognized services and products to South Africa through the group’s renewable energy, cloud & cyber security, data centers, and broadband connectivity business units.

Cassava’s investment pledge comprises key projects, including the expansion of the Liquid Intelligent Technologies fiber network, the extension of Africa Data Centres capacity and footprint,  enhanced cloud and cyber security capacity, and the rollout of clean, renewable energy by Distributed  Power Africa in South Africa.

South Africa’s USD$ 6.75 billion ICT sector represents one of Africa’s most investment-attractive and growth-bound industries today. The world bank estimates that South Africa’s internet penetration rate has doubled over the last decade, standing at 70%.