Kush Investments to extend reach into East Africa, has option to partner Sparkle on ICT and telecoms projects
Sparkle has signed an agreement with the UAE-based Kush Investments to provide virtual fibre solutions on Google’s submarine cable systems, Blue-Raman, to serve East Africa. The cables are expected to come into service next year.
The agreement was signed in Sparkle’s Rome headquarters by Mohammed Yusef (seated left in the picture above) CIO of Kush Investments, and Enrico Maria Bagnasco, CEO of Sparkle (seated right). Kush Investments will have virtual fibre connecting Mumbai and Djibouti with Europe (via Palermo, Genoa, Marseille and Milan) and with India (Mumbai).
Expanding own reach
The plan is to expand Kush Investments’ asset portfolio in ICT infrastructure and allow it to develop new business opportunities and telecoms projects in East African countries.
The agreement between Sparkle and Kush Investments will allow the two companies to expand their collaboration in the telecom and ICT sector to expand into East Africa, the continent’s fastest-growing region.
Muhammed Yusef, CIO of Kush Investments, said: “We are excited to be undertaking this investment with our joint venture partners Al Qalaa Investments as part of our collective commitment to build opportunities for innovation and infrastructure development in Africa today.
“Working with Sparkle is a natural fit and collaboration for us, where together we will drive new solutions via Blue/Raman to the digital agenda across the continent…working collaboratively on this initiative and other areas that focus on unlocking the potential of connecting Africa and driving the continued growth of the digital ecosystem there in the years to come.”
Power of partnership
Sparkle’s Bagnasco added, “We are extremely pleased of this agreement that, while accelerating the development of international telecommunication infrastructures and contributing to support the impressive digital growth in Africa, represents the beginning of a partnership with Kush Investments to be developed in various fields.”
“Sparkle is ready and willing to strengthen the cooperation in Africa leveraging its portfolio of digital services as well as to collaborate in the field of education with training programs conceived to share the knowledge of the digital infrastructure sector.”