Data centres: The new cool kids on the block?
Data centres power the modern economy and keep the worlds largest businesses, websites and services running, but in doing so they are also the biggest guzzlers of energy worldwide. The industry is applying new business models and technologies to change that.
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Amazon, Taobao – these mainstays of urban life and the wider digital economy are powered by an often-overlooked business: data centres.
But these data centres are also indispensable. They house the IT operations, equipment and software of organisations across the world, which stores, processes, and disseminates information.
Kenya and South Sudan to receive fibre optic connection
Kenya and South Sudan are set to benefit from being connected to a high-speed fibre optic cable within the next two years which will greatly enhance communication as well as inter-border trade.
The governments of both countries have initiated the fibre optic cable system as part of a wider initiative known as the Eastern Africa Regional Transport, Trade and Development Facilitation Project.
This project will also see the construction of a road from Eldoret to Lodwar and Juba which will link the two countries, as well as a common border post to accompany this. South Sudan will extend the cable from the Kenya-South Sudan border to Juba.
Cubot launches smartphone with Kenyan design
NAIROBI, KENYA: International Mobile firm Cubot has officially launched its latest flagship smartphone in Kenya. The global launch of the Cubot Note S was done in Kenya to honour the Kenyan artists who designed the phones back-cover. He said the use of the African inspired Kenyan designs has increased the phones appeal both locally and globally. Kilimall, the leading online retailer, has been appointed the exclusive distributor of the brand in Kenya and the East African region. Our market research for Africa pointed to a very high appreciation of the Cubot brand in Kenya, said Kilimall marketing director Larry Liu. Mr Liu said many Kenyans are looking for high quality and affordable smartphones which, he noted, were in short supply in the local market.
Nikon chooses Nairobi for debut showroom
Nikon, a Japanese manufacturer of high-end cameras, has opened a multimillion-shilling showroom in Kenya, marking the latest local venture by investors from the Asian giant.
The Tokyo-based company has invested in a Sh20 million showroom at TRM shopping mall on Thika Road, targeting the country’s photography enthusiasts and demand from the nascent film industry.
The tech firm, whose products include cameras, lenses, binoculars, micro-scopes and measurement instruments, currently has a presence in 30 African countries, but the Kenyan showroom is the first of its kind on the continent.
