Digital services and risk resilience in Africa's evolving ICT landscape

By Alpheus Mangale, Group CEO of SEACOM

22 July 2025

SEACOM has provided the digital highway that connects businesses to their markets, suppliers to their customers, and people to one another for the last sixteen years, since the firm's inception. Clients and partners alike trust SEACOM to deliver outstanding quality of service and innovative solutions built on reliable infrastructure that underpins productivity, inclusion, and resilience in an increasingly interconnected world.

The transformative power of digital infrastructure is undisputed. When subsea cables like SEACOM first landed in South Africa, studies suggest they contributed to a GDP uplift of up to 6%. More broadly, the World Bank estimates that a 10% increase in broadband penetration in developing countries is associated with an average 1.4% increase in GDP growth, a powerful testament to the critical importance of investing in digital infrastructure.

Empowering Africa for a digitally connected future

Just as physical infrastructure is vital to economic development, digital services play a critical role in driving innovation, enhancing productivity, creating new business opportunities, and improving access to information and services.

SEACOM delivers comprehensive, end-to-end digital ICT solutions and managed services capabilities designed to help enterprises accelerate their digital transformation journeys. SEACOM's suite of Digital services spans cloud, Communication, Connectivity, Cybersecurity, and Smart Networking, all of which are built to enable businesses, educational institutions, and governments to digitise their operations efficiently and securely.

With capabilities spanning high-speed internet, hosting, managed services, and advanced security, SEACOM helps clients move beyond connectivity to realise the full value of digitalisation.

At the heart of SEACOM's mission is a commitment to inclusive transformation. The company empowers businesses and communities by delivering world-class infrastructure and integrated digital services, unlocking access, expanding participation, and enabling Africa's digital economy to thrive.

SEACOM believes that the widespread adoption of digital services can reshape society, increasing access to knowledge, improving communication, and creating new pathways for economic advancement and value creation.

Getting to grips with technology trends

The pace of technological advancement today is unprecedented, reshaping industries, transforming everyday life, and challenging businesses to adapt in real time.

Emerging trends in digital services, ranging from Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to IoT, blockchain, quantum computing, and augmented reality, offer exciting opportunities for innovation while also introducing new vulnerabilities, particularly in the realm of cybersecurity. As digital ecosystems expand, so too does the risk of cyber threats, including phishing, malware, denial-of-service attacks, and insider breaches.

Staying ahead of these challenges requires more than awareness — it demands action. SEACOM takes a proactive approach to this evolving threat landscape, continuously monitoring developments and helping clients respond with agility and confidence.

SEACOM empowers businesses to embrace transformation securely through its comprehensive suite of digital solutions. Its offerings span end-to-end ICT services, high-speed connectivity, cloud infrastructure, and advanced cybersecurity capabilities, enabling enterprises, including e-commerce businesses, to operate efficiently and ensure seamless transactions and secure data management.

By combining innovation with resilience, SEACOM ensures its clients are equipped to adopt the latest technologies safely and securely.

Navigating risk with agility and resilience

In a world where digital transformation is accelerating at breakneck speed, the risks facing businesses are evolving just as rapidly. From cyber threats to geopolitical tensions, the ICT landscape is fraught with complexities that demand not only vigilance but also agility. SEACOM understands this reality intimately and has built its digital services offering with resilience at its core.

For SEACOM, risk management is not a back-office function – it is a strategic imperative. The company's approach is rooted in a deep understanding of its clients' needs and the broader forces shaping the digital economy. Whether it's a multinational enterprise navigating regulatory shifts or a local startup facing cyber vulnerabilities, SEACOM's client-first philosophy ensures that resilience is embedded in every solution it delivers.

This commitment is reflected in how SEACOM operates. The company maintains a constant pulse on global developments, proactively monitoring trends and threats that could impact service delivery. It leverages a network of international partners to ensure continuity, drawing on global best practices while tailoring solutions to local realities.

SEACOM's privately held structure also plays a pivotal role. Free from the constraints of complex corporate hierarchies, the company can respond swiftly and decisively to emerging challenges. This operational agility allows SEACOM to pivot quickly, whether that means rerouting services to avoid disruptions, scaling up cybersecurity defences in response to new threats, or adapting to sudden shifts in market demand.

Ultimately, SEACOM's digital services are designed not just to enable transformation, but to sustain it. In an environment where uncertainty is the only constant, SEACOM provides the stability and foresight that businesses need to thrive. Its integrated suite of cloud, connectivity, communication, cybersecurity, and innovative networking solutions empowers clients to operate with confidence, knowing that their digital backbone is secure, adaptable, and future-ready.

The future is bright

Africa stands at the threshold of a digital renaissance—an era defined not just by access to technology, but by how intelligently and inclusively that technology is applied. SEACOM sees this moment as a turning point, where digital services become the engine of economic growth, innovation, and social upliftment across the continent.

As businesses, governments, and communities embrace digital transformation, the role of integrated digital services becomes increasingly vital. SEACOM is at the forefront of this shift, delivering cloud, cybersecurity, smart networking, and communication solutions that empower organisations to operate more efficiently, scale faster, and serve their stakeholders more effectively.

The future of Africa's digital economy will be shaped not only by infrastructure but by the ability to harness digital services to solve real-world challenges—whether it's enabling remote education, securing financial transactions, or streamlining healthcare delivery. SEACOM believes that the accurate measure of progress lies in the outcomes: the businesses empowered, the jobs created, and the communities connected.

From its inception, SEACOM has been committed to building the digital foundations for Africa's growth. Today, that mission has evolved to encompass a broader vision—one where digital services catalyse inclusive development and long-term resilience. By delivering tailored, high-impact solutions that meet the continent's unique needs, SEACOM is helping Africa unlock its full potential and chart a bold, connected future.

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