Telecom
AFR-IX Telecom, Global ISP Establishes Regional Point of Presence (POP) @ Rack Centre
AFR-IX, the global Internet Service Provider with service coverage in over 50 countries in Africa, delivering Internet and data services to Enterprises, International Carriers and Telecommunication Operators and the largest Pan Africa Network has established its major Point of Presence (POP) in Rack Centre, West Africa’s leading carrier neutral Tier III data centre.
AFR-IX telecom group ranked at Number 344 in the Financial Times 1000 and recognised in the 2020 annual list of Europe’s fastest growing companies. Mr Norman Albi, Founder and Chief Executive, said the recognition had helped the company build trust in markets worldwide, especially in Africa.
“We offer an international high quality and personalized Internet and data services to corporates and telecommunications in the African continent and our extensive Pan African Network covered with terrestrial and submarine cables makes AFR-IX one of the leading Telecom operating service providers in Africa, and the most reliable and largest metro-Ethernet network with Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS).”
Mr Albi commented on Nigeria as a strategic location for AFR-IX; “we needed a top-notch carrier neutral data centre facility for our services and connectivity solutions. Rack Centre satisfied our requirements for providing world-class Tier III certified data centre and data centre interconnection to our clients, especially in the West Africa subregion.”
Dr Ayotunde Coker, Managing Director of Rack Centre, said it was a “delight welcoming AFR-IX to the array of local and global clients hosting in Rack Centre carrier neutral data centre. We will do our utmost as we do with all our clients to deliver outstanding services for AFR-IX to serve its customers in Africa and beyond.
Since inception in 2013 Rack Centre has maintained a 100 per cent uptime and offers its customers, open access and uncapped interconnect capacities. Its non-affiliation with any telecommunications carrier or Internet Service Providers unlocks access to multiple connectivity providers- over 40 carriers, ISPs and content distribution networks to choose from.”
Rack Centre recently announced a 100 Million USD expansion plan, as part of the 250 Million USD that Actis, the UK based equity firm set aside for data centre investments in Africa. Actis recently took a majority stake in Rack Centre.
The investment said Dr Coker has immensely impacted and reinforced Rack Centre’s global brand and enables its rapid expansion to realise the market potential for high quality data centres in the region.
MTN Nigeria has proudly announced the rebranding of its fibre broadband service to FibreX, marking a significant stride in delivering next-generation internet solutions across the nation.
Formerly called MTN Fibre Broadband, FibreX embodies the company’s commitment to providing ultra-fast, reliable, and accessible internet services, aligning seamlessly with Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) 2020–2025.
The NBP aims to achieve 70% broadband penetration by 2025, ensuring minimum speeds of 25 Mbps in urban areas and 10 Mbps in rural regions.
“The launch of FibreX reiterates our dedication to supporting Nigeria’s digital transformation journey,” said Egerton Idehen, Chief Broadband Officer, MTN Nigeria. “By enhancing our infrastructure and services, we aim to bridge the digital divide and foster inclusive growth.”
FibreX is set to play a pivotal role in the Federal Government’s initiative to expand the nation’s fibre-optic network by an additional 90,000 kilometers, aiming to increase fibre capacity from 35,000 km to 125,000 km.
FibreX promises ultra-fast and reliable internet connectivity, aiming to meet the diverse needs of Nigerians, from bustling urban centres to remote rural areas.
While the service itself retains its powerful FTTH (fibre to the home) infrastructure, the new name embodies a more modern, relatable, and emotionally resonant brand that is positioned to lead the conversation around what premium internet should feel like.
The new name, FibreX, was adopted to create a more customer-friendly brand. The goal is to educate and excite consumers within home-passed locations (the potential number of premises within a service area that can be connected to an FTTH network) about the benefits of the product.
As Nigeria strides towards a digitally inclusive future, initiatives like FibreX are crucial in bridging the digital divide and fostering nationwide connectivity.
For more information about FibreX and its offerings, please visit www.mtn.ng/fibrex.
Organisations today face a data paradox: they need to make fast, intelligent decisions but are overwhelmed by large volumes of often unreliable information. With over 75% of business leaders under pressure to prove data’s value, the demand for trusted, actionable insights has never been greater.
What is agentic analytics
Agentic analytics allows users to collaborate with AI agents to speed up the entire data-to-action process. Instead of relying on static visualizations, analysts can use AI to automate tasks like data preparation and ETL (extract, transform, load processes), freeing them to focus on deeper analysis. Business leaders can ask natural language questions and get instant, reliable answers along with recommended actions. This makes data-driven decision-making easier and more efficient, removing the need for technical expertise and manual effort typical of traditional BI tools.
- Automate repetitive data tasks like data cleaning, transformation, and visualization generation, as well as the execution of complex, multi-step analytical workflows within and across different business areas. This builds on Tableau’s strength in simplifying complex data for users.
- Proactively deliver faster, more comprehensive insights by autonomously detecting hidden correlations, outliers, and trends that might be missed by human observation. This enhances Tableau’s focus on user-driven insights by providing AI guidance.
- Enable more contextual and effective action through natural language summaries, visualisations, and data-driven recommendations, insights delivered where people work with an enterprise-class workflow engine that enables users to kick off automated actions. This extends Tableau’s ability to drive action from data, making it more seamless within the Salesforce ecosystem.
Built on the trusted Salesforce Platform and leveraging the power of Data Cloud, Tableau Next delivers enterprise-grade performance, robust security, and flexible, zero-copy data integration for seamless data connectivity. Tableau Semantics, an intelligent semantic layer, provides a unified understanding of information, ensuring data consistency and accelerating the discovery of critical insights. The built-in workflow engine in Tableau Next seamlessly translates insights directly into actionable steps, dramatically accelerating the time to value. The key differentiator is the native integration with Agentforce, Tableau Next equips humans and AI agents with pre-built analytical skills to rapidly transform data into tangible business value, marking a significant leap forward in data-driven decision-making. It includes:
- Data Pro: Your Intelligent Data Prep Assistant. Instead of users manually cleaning up and changing data using complex steps (like in traditional ETL), Data Pro will give smart suggestions on how to do it and even automatically handle some of the complicated changes, saving time and effort.
- Concierge: Instant Answers in Plain Language. Get immediate, reliable answers to data questions. Sales teams, for example, can simply ask “What are my best sales opportunities?” and receive clear insights with recommended actions.
- Inspector: Proactive Data Monitoring & Insights. Continuously tracks your data for key changes, analyzes trends, and predicts improvements. Service teams can be instantly alerted to drops in customer satisfaction, enabling immediate action.
Ensuring Data Trust and Accuracy:
- Tableau Semantics: Tableau Semantics serves as the semantic layer, providing Tableau Next and Agentforce with a unified understanding of business data. By establishing consistent definitions and context, it enables AI agents to generate accurate and relevant responses.
Boosting Efficiency:
- Marketplace: Allows users to easily share and reuse data analysis components (like data assets, connections, metrics, visualizations, dashboards), saving time and ensuring everyone is working with the same information.
“Tableau Next helps businesses achieve faster, more impactful results with their data,” said Ryan Aytay, CEO of Tableau. “We’re shifting from basic reports to a world where AI is a collaborative decision-making partner. By combining AI agents with trusted data and easy-to-use tools, we’re making data accessible to everyone and transforming the data-to-action process into an automated, proactive, and insight-driven cycle. This empowers users to improve decision-making, boost efficiency, and manage risk more effectively.”
Chinese-founded e-commerce platforms Temu and Shein have announced upcoming price increases for U.S. customers, citing higher operating expenses due to tariffs imposed during former President Donald Trump’s administration.
These tariffs include a 145% import tax on most goods made in China and the elimination of the “de minimis provision,” which previously allowed goods valued under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free.
The changes, effective May 2, have disrupted the business models of both companies, known for their ultra-low prices and extensive digital marketing campaigns.
Temu and Shein, which specialize in affordable products ranging from clothing to electronics, have urged customers to shop before the price adjustments take effect.
The companies aim to minimize the impact on consumers while adapting to the new trade rules.
These developments come amid concerns from U.S. lawmakers and business groups about the competitive advantage of inexpensive Chinese goods and the potential entry of counterfeit products through the now-canceled exemption.
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