The collaboration between Cassava Technologies and Nvidia aims to transform Africa's technological landscape by establishing a powerful and secure data center facility powered by Nvidia's GPU-based supercomputers1. This AI factory will leverage Cassava's pan-African high-speed, ultra-low-latency fiber-optic network to deliver AI as a Service (AIaaS), providing businesses, governments, and researchers with cutting-edge AI computing capacity23. The project is set to launch in South Africa by June 2025, with plans for expansion to Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria4. Cassava's world-class data centers are designed to be energy-efficient, using less electricity to power AI computing workloads while ensuring data sovereignty by keeping information within Africa's borders1.

Africa's first AI factory, spearheaded by Cassava Technologies in partnership with Nvidia, represents a significant leap forward in the continent's technological capabilities. Set to launch in South Africa by June 2025, this cutting-edge facility will deploy Nvidia's advanced computing and AI software using Nvidia Cloud Partner (NCP) reference architectures12. The AI factory will leverage Cassava's pan-African fiber-optic network to deliver AI as a Service (AIaaS), providing local businesses, governments, and researchers with access to high-performance AI resources without having to look beyond Africa's borders32.

Key features of the AI factory include:

• GPU-based supercomputers for faster AI model training and inference2

• Energy-efficient data centers designed to minimize power consumption2

• Expansion plans to Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria13

• Focus on developing AI solutions for sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, energy, and financial services4

• Commitment to data sovereignty by keeping information within Africa32

This initiative is expected to catalyze innovation across the continent, empowering African entrepreneurs and researchers to develop localized AI solutions that address unique regional challenges while fostering economic growth and competitiveness in the global AI landscape54.

The AI factory initiative is poised to significantly boost African innovation and competitiveness in the global tech landscape. By providing local access to cutting-edge AI computing capacity, the project will enable African businesses, governments, and researchers to develop smarter AI products, streamline operations, and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital world12. This infrastructure will support the development of domestic AI technologies, increase productivity, and foster innovation across various sectors including healthcare, agriculture, energy, and financial services34.

Strive Masiyiwa, founder and executive chairman of Cassava, emphasized that the AI Factory will empower African innovators to turn bold ideas into real-world breakthroughs without looking beyond the continent4. This localized approach to AI development is expected to drive growth, create new opportunities, and help solve some of Africa's most pressing challenges through technology-driven solutions56.

The Cassava-Nvidia AI factory project is part of a broader trend of cloud infrastructure expansion across Africa. This initiative aligns with other significant investments in the continent's digital future, reflecting growing recognition of Africa's potential in the global tech landscape.

• Microsoft and UAE-based G42 announced plans for a $1 billion geothermal-powered data center in Kenya last year1

• Cassava aims to become Africa's first Nvidia cloud partner, providing accelerated computing capabilities across the continent1

• The AI factory will initially launch in South Africa, with planned expansion to Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria2

• Cassava's pan-African fiber-optic network will be leveraged to deliver AI as a Service (AIaaS) across multiple countries3

• The project is designed to keep data within Africa's borders, supporting data sovereignty and local regulations24

These developments signal a growing focus on building robust cloud infrastructure to support Africa's digital transformation and position the continent as a key player in the global AI and tech ecosystem.