Author: Staff Writer
A novel sensor system has been developed to help datacentres optimise the energy efficiency and sustainability of their operations. In the following article, Anu Kätkä from the measurement technology company Vaisala describes the development of a modular daisy-chain temperature/humidity sensor configuration, which has dramatically reduced cabling requirements and lowered the carbon footprint of building management systems (BMS). Background The global demand for datacentres is being driven by cloud-based services, AI, automation and digitisation. These data handling facilities house large amounts of IT infrastructure and require high levels of power to run the equipment and to cool it. The latest servers…
After years of restricted movement, the conversation around travel has regained momentum, particularly for South Africans who are increasingly seeking ways to balance work, life, and mental well-being. For millennials and Gen Z, incorporating travel into a sustainable lifestyle rhythm has emerged as a key priority. However, the challenge for many remains how to make travel more affordable, especially in the face of rising living costs and constrained budgets. It’s the Journey, Not Just the Destination One of the primary hurdles in realising a dream holiday is determining how to afford it. For many South Africans, this is where aspirations often lose momentum. Everyday spending typically does little to help build a travel fund, which is why loyalty programmes are proving to…
In recognition of the invaluable work being done by non-profits and small businesses to shape a better South Africa, local digital transformation business Obami is launching a Tech in Kind initiative. As a token of appreciation for their efforts, Obami is offering up to R1 million in pro bono digital transformation services to selected organisations. With close on 75% of South Africans now online, the opportunity for digital engagement is too big to ignore. Yet only 42% of our SMEs have a website or social media presence, with countless more lacking the appropriate digital infrastructure needed for their teams to operate efficiently. Similarly, nonprofits struggle…
Vodacom South Africa is excited to announce the launch of its new RED VIP flagship plans, designed to offer customers additional value and a host of new features and benefits. These plans are tailored to meet the evolving needs of our customers, ensuring they stay connected on South Africa’s most reliable network. Vodacom launched these RED VIP plans to provide customers with additional value to meet the growing demand for cost efficiency, particularly in response to the challenges posed by the tough economic times where consumers are seeking more for less. “We are excited to offer customers a portfolio of…
It’s been an interesting month for used car sales in South Africa, with the latest data from AutoTrader revealing that used car sales have fallen by -9.6% year-on-year and -10.3% compared to last month. While overall sales have taken a dive, several models saw growth in September 2024. Overall, September used car sales totalled 28,609, with a combined value of just under R11.6 billion. This represents a year-on-year decrease of -8.7% in accumulative sales value. It’s no surprise that Toyota, Volkswagen, and Ford retained their top three positions, with 4,964, 4,134, and 2,962 units sold, respectively. Toyota experienced a modest -2% decline…
Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) have signed an agreement to improve access to financing for Singaporean companies looking to expand into Africa. This marks the first partnership between EnterpriseSG and a multilateral development bank, under the Enterprise Financing Scheme – Multilateral Development Banks (EFS-MDB). The partnership will allow Singaporean businesses to tap into new financing options from one of Africa’s key lenders as they venture into the continent. Through the EFS-MDB, EnterpriseSG offers risk-sharing of up to 50% to support lending from partner multilateral development banks. The partnership will cover financing needs such as working capital,…
Terra Firma, a South-African independent power producer (IPP) and renewable energy company, has announced a new R1.3-billion utility-scale solar energy build programme that will deliver a combined 110MWp of wheeled energy services once completed. Grant Berndsen, CEO at Terra Firma, says the project will provide improved cost savings and sustainability benefits to customers throughout the country. “Commercial and industrial customers specifically in the manufacturing, extractive and digital infrastructure sectors with power purchasing agreements (PPAs) in place will benefit from cost-effective renewable energy delivered via Eskom’s grid. We believe wheeling will be a vital part of South Africa’s rapidly evolving energy…
SA-founded B2B software-as-a-service fleet management company GoMetro, now headquartered in London, has been selected as a recipient of a £147,000 or R3.2 million grant from the UK Freight Innovation Fund. This comes within months of GoMetro announcing its Series A funding of £9 million ($11.4 million), led by Zenobē Energy and Futuregrowth Asset Management. “The grant will be used to finance a six-month trial with leading UK logistics companies Maritime Transport and Welch’s Transport to implement GoMetro’s EV-FIT solution for electric vehicle (EV) fleet transformation and the GoMetro Bridge fleet management software platform,” says Group CEO and founder of GoMetro…
Huawei Cloud will take its mission of building an equal, diversified, and prosperous digital South Africa to the next level, when it hosts its first ever South Africa Cloud Summit in Johannesburg. This landmark occasion will see over 600 industry leaders from a broad range of sectors meet at the Gallagher Convention Centre on the 24th of October for discussions, speeches and product showcases that will shape the future of South Africa’s digital industries. From being the first international vendor to host a local hyperscale cloud data centre in South Africa, Huawei Cloud has consistently shown its commitment to introducing…
Electrified vehicles (EVs) remain a rare sight on South African roads. Still, an increasing number of consumers are interested in battery-electric vehicles, traditional hybrids, and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), according to the 2024 AutoTrader New Energy Vehicle Report. And it’s not hard to see why. Lower running costs, superior refinement, and, of course, the environmental benefits are all draw cards. Despite this, 94% of survey respondents said they have not owned an NEV. Among those who have previously owned an NEV (6%), 73% of NEV owners said they have owned hybrids, while 21% had owned electric vehicles. 6% of these respondents have…