20 October 2025
MTN’s digital infrastructure subsidiary, Bayobab, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Seekr Technologies. The partnership aims to deliver AI-as-a-service (AIaaS) to both private and public organisations throughout Africa, integrating these offerings with Bayobab’s existing connectivity services.
Under the agreement, Bayobab will utilise Seekr’s Flow AIaaS platform to rapidly deploy and expand AI models in a cost-efficient manner, enhancing current and future digital and connectivity solutions. The collaboration will also focus on enabling digital governance, citizen engagement, and public safety initiatives within the public sector. Additionally, the partnership intends to provide AI-driven insights for sectors such as financial services, logistics, and energy, leveraging Bayobab’s data centres and investment programs.
Mazen Mroué, CEO of Bayobab, emphasised the significance of the partnership, viewing it as a key step toward accelerating Africa’s digital transformation through AI. He highlighted the potential for embedding intelligent technologies into the continent’s digital infrastructure to foster enterprise innovation and promote meaningful progress. Mroué expressed optimism that the collaboration could unlock scalable impacts across both public and private sectors across Africa.
Recent research commissioned by SAP and released in June 2025 estimates that AI could contribute approximately US$1.5 trillion to Africa’s economy by 2030. Bayobab’s partnership with Seekr follows recent comments from Ralph Mupita, president and CEO of MTN Group, Bayobab’s parent company, who stressed the importance of AI as a tool for inclusive growth in Africa. Mupita warned that the continent must act swiftly to prevent widening inequality and the emergence of a digital underclass, advocating for collaboration among governments, the private sector, and civil society on policy, data governance, and skills development.
The move also comes amid reports that MTN Group is engaging with US and European firms to develop the necessary infrastructure for AI services, with plans for joint investment. Despite Africa’s rapid population growth and youthful demographic, the continent currently accounts for only 1% of global AI data centre capacity, most of which is concentrated in South Africa. In response, Cassava Technologies announced plans to build five “AI factories” across Africa to address this capacity gap.
