Here’s the rewritten article focusing on the three main news stories:
MTN South Africa Consolidates Data Center Operations, Shuts Down Historic Facilities
MTN South Africa announced the closure of two longstanding data centers as part of a strategic infrastructure modernization initiative. The telecommunications giant will decommission its Gallo Manor facility in Johannesburg and the Great Westerford site in Cape Town, marking the end of an era for these pioneering facilities.
The Gallo Manor center, which holds historical significance as South Africa’s first hosting environment of its kind, will be phased out despite weathering challenges including a major load-shedding outage in 2022. Similarly, the Great Westerford facility, operated in partnership with Teraco since 2009, will cease operations as part of the consolidation plan.
MTN’s current infrastructure includes 18 data centers across 11 markets in nine African countries. The company plans to transition customers from these legacy facilities to newer, more advanced data centers, including both MTN-owned sites and partner facilities operated by companies like Teraco.
The consolidation aligns with MTN’s broader vision for technological advancement, particularly in artificial intelligence. The company is currently in commercial negotiations with US and European firms to develop AI-focused data centers across Africa, according to CEO Ralph Mupita.
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WorkRemit Emerges as New Player in African HR Tech Space
Former consultant Seyi Babatunde is challenging established HR technology providers with WorkRemit, a cross-border payroll management platform born from practical experience. Through his firm HR Leverage, Babatunde has worked with major brands including TikTok, OPay, Mama Cass, and The Place.
WorkRemit aims to simplify the complex process of managing payroll across multiple African countries, addressing challenges such as incompatible banking systems, varying compliance requirements, and high transaction fees. The platform, which grew from HR Leverage’s operations in 13 African countries, focuses on streamlining cross-border payments and automating compliance procedures.
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Verto Expands to UAE, Enhancing Africa-Gulf Payment Corridors
Nigerian B2B payments platform Verto has established operations in Dubai’s International Financial Centre, securing a DFSA license to facilitate faster payments between Africa and the Gulf region. The company, which processes $15-25 billion in annual cross-border transactions for clients including Unilever and Maersk, will now offer direct access to dirham liquidity and local clearing services.
The expansion allows businesses to bypass traditional dollar-based transactions, potentially reducing costs and processing times. Verto faces competition from other fintech providers like Kora and Fincra, as well as traditional banks, in the growing Africa-Gulf trade corridor.
The platform offers features including rapid settlement, competitive FX rates, multi-currency accounts, and automated exchange tools, aimed at addressing the challenges of cross-border payments and currency volatility facing African businesses.
