Cassava AI coming to mobile network operators

Cassava Technologies has introduced its Cassava AI Multi-Model Exchange (CAIMEx) to make AI and large language models (LLMs) easily accessible to mobile network operators.

The platform is being positioned as a full service offering for access to multiple AI models from providers like OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and others.

Speaking at a fireside chat at AfricaCom, Ahmed El Beheiry, CEO of Cassava AI explains that African businesses don’t have to access infrastructure with high costs and high latency, they now have access to that compute locally through CAIMEx.

The company describes it as a single, easy-to-use platform, managed and supported locally by Cassava.

“We are building an AI cloud that will allow you [African businesses] to access AI libraries from us being an Nvidia cloud partner,” says El Beheiry.

The company says its whether it’s for driving customer engagement, streamlining operations, or building innovative digital experiences, CAIMEx delivers “speed, scalability, and security to help organisations unlock the full power of artificial intelligence”.

It adds that the data stays within Africa, addressing data sovereignty, privacy, and compliance requirements.

“All services are hosted in Cassava’s regional AI factories, guaranteeing access to high performance compute, data security, and compliance with local data protection regulations,” it says.

Cassava and Google Partnership

Cassava has also announced a partnership that will bring access to Google’s Gemini across the continent, in a bid to remove the cost barrier and data consumption for consumers in Africa.

A six-month extended trial of the Google AI Plus plan will be on offer. It includes access to the Google’s most capable Gemini models, 200GB of storage, video generation, Gemini in Gmail and Docs and a limit for image generation and data-free access to the Gemini app.

Cassava says it will work with its “extensive network of technology service providers” to allow users to access Gemini without consuming their mobile data.

The Google AI Plus plan includes:

• Gemini 2.5 Pro model
• 200GB cloud storage
• Deep Research on 2.5 Pro
• Higher limits of image generation with Nano Banana
• Video generation with access to Veo 3.1 Fast
• Access to Flow, our generative video tool for filmmaking
• Expanded access to NotebookLM for advanced note-taking and insights
• Gemini integration in Gmail and Docs for smarter writing and productivity

Visit Google AI Plus for more information.

When it comes to Cassava Technologies future plans, El Beheiry says since day one, the plan was to build five data centres with AI compute all over Africa, and the one being built now outside of Cape Town is to serve the southern part of Africa.

“We’re planning a second one to follow soon in Egypt, followed by Kenya, Morocco and Nigeria. This will be five centres of interconnected AI data centres with compute power to serve all African regions”.

“This will be the bedrock of the digital infrastructure that will allow African startups, African innovators and Africans to really infuse AI in all industries. It is the gate to Africa’s AI future,” says El Beheiry.

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