Cassava Technologies and AXON Networks have formed a strategic partnership to accelerate AI connectivity and digital innovation across Africa. The collaboration brings together Cassava’s extensive pan-African digital infrastructure and AXON’s intelligent network platform capabilities to jointly develop and operate Africa’s first end-to-end Operator-as-a-Service (OaaS) platform, designed to support scalable, AI-driven networks across the continent.
Built on Cassava’s high-speed fibre backbone, the platform is engineered to deliver AI connectivity through a programmable, software-defined network environment that enables real-time network design, deployment, and management. The initiative aims to connect millions of people and businesses while unlocking new opportunities for economic growth, digital transformation, and AI adoption across Africa.
The partnership was announced at Counder Conference 2026 in Cape Town, a flagship event bringing together global investors, family offices, and corporate leaders focused on emerging markets and long-term innovation.
Commenting on the collaboration, Hardy Pemhiwa, President and Group CEO of Cassava Technologies, said the partnership reflects a shift away from traditional, hardware-centric infrastructure toward software-defined, AI-managed networks. He emphasized that this approach is expected to lower operational costs, reduce manual network configuration, and allow customers and service providers to provision and adapt networks in near real time. According to Pemhiwa, the move positions Cassava not just as a connectivity provider, but as a long-term partner in its customers’ digital transformation journeys.
The OaaS platform will support businesses of all sizes, as well as telecommunications operators, internet service providers, and satellite connectivity providers. By delivering secure, private, high-performance data infrastructure, the platform is designed to give service providers greater agility, intelligence, and geographic reach, enabling faster innovation and broader AI adoption.
Martin Manniche, CEO and Founder of AXON Networks, highlighted the significance of integrating AXON’s Operator-as-a-Service platform with Cassava’s fibre footprint and AI-enabled data centers. He noted that the collaboration goes beyond traditional network replication by virtualising the infrastructure into a live, AI-driven ecosystem. Manniche described the initiative as a foundational step toward enabling AI-powered growth, digital sovereignty, and long-term prosperity across the African continent.
The platform leverages AXON’s digital twin technology to create a dynamic, real-time model of Cassava’s network assets, spanning more than 110,000 kilometers of terrestrial and submarine fibre, along with satellite and wireless connectivity. This self-learning, autonomous network model is designed to reduce operational complexity, improve resilience, and accelerate service delivery at scale.
Representatives from Counder Conference also welcomed the announcement, noting that the partnership reflects the event’s mission of fostering meaningful collaboration between visionary leaders. They highlighted the importance of global organizations choosing Africa-based platforms to launch initiatives that address the continent’s most critical digital and economic opportunities.
Together, Cassava Technologies and AXON Networks aim to establish a scalable digital foundation for Africa’s AI economy, redefining how network infrastructure is built, managed, and leveraged to support future innovation.
