• Cassava Technologies launched CAIMEx, giving mobile network operators seamless access to top-tier AI tools.

• CAIMEx ensures data sovereignty and regulatory compliance, while democratizing AI access for enterprises, SMEs, and mobile subscribers.

• CAIMEx anchors Cassava’s broader AI strategy amid rising competition from regional telcos and global cloud providers.

Cassava Technologies, the tech company owned by Zimbabwean investor Strive Masiwiya  announced on November 12 the launch of its Cassava AI Multi-Model Exchange (CAIMEx), a platform designed to make the world’s leading artificial intelligence (AI) tools and large language models (LLMs) easily accessible to mobile network operators (MNOs) across Africa.

The platform acts as a one-stop gateway for accessing multiple AI models from providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and others. Instead of navigating complex integrations or building cost-intensive infrastructure, African MNOs can now connect to the most advanced AI technologies through a single, easy-to-use platform, managed and supported locally by Cassava.

“With its growing AI ecosystem, Africa has the potential to be more than a consumer of imported technologies,” said Ahmed El Beheiry, CEO of Cassava AI. “Through CAIMEx, Cassava is creating a bridge between global innovation and African ambition, giving every MNO the ability to offer subscribers world-class AI tools and LLMs easily and affordably.”

CAIMEx currently supports Anthropic’s Claude and Google’s Gemini models, among others, making it a versatile and future-ready AI hub. The platform enables MNOs to choose models that best fit their enterprise and subscriber needs—from fast, real-time intelligence and advanced reasoning to trusted, ethical decision-making and open-source flexibility.

According to the company, all data processed through CAIMEx remains within Africa, ensuring data sovereignty, privacy, and compliance with local regulations. The platform is designed not only for large enterprises but also to unlock access to AI tools for millions of mobile subscribers and SMEs across the continent.

The launch of CAIMEx carries wide-reaching economic implications. According to PwC research, Africa could see its GDP rise by up to 4.9 percentage points by 2035 through responsible AI adoption. For Cassava, CAIMEx marks a major milestone in its evolution from a connectivity and infrastructure provider into a diversified digital solutions company. The platform strengthens Cassava’s position within Africa’s growing AI ecosystem while expanding its role as a technology enabler for telcos, governments, and enterprises.

CAIMEx is part of a broader AI strategy by Cassava Technologies. In 2025, the company announced a $720 million investment to build five AI facilities across Africa, forming the backbone of its “Sovereign AI Cloud” initiative. Cassava also recently partnered with Google to roll out Gemini AI across the continent, including a six-month extended trial of Google AI Plus and data-free access to the Gemini app.

Hikmatu Bilali