Sedna Africa, a leading provider of industrial IT and connectivity solutions, has secured a landmark contract with Beira Terminal Operator Cornelder de Moçambique to deploy a private mobile network at Beira Port in Mozambique — a project that will significantly enhance safety, productivity, and operational efficiency at one of the region’s most critical transport hubs. The South African company described the agreement as a “historic contract” and emphasized that the initiative aims to transform operations at the central Mozambican port by improving security, streamlining processes, and driving overall performance.
Quoted by Engineering News, Anton Fester, managing director of Sedna Africa, stated that the port’s current infrastructure is outdated and unable to meet demands—particularly in terms of connectivity. This issue is also seen in “nearly all major ports across the African continent, which still operate using narrowband technologies with limited data throughput, hindering their digital transformation efforts.”
Fester explained that private mobile networks provide reliable, high-bandwidth connectivity, which is essential for safety, automation, and productivity in ports, mines, and other heavy industries.
“By implementing this modern technology, the Port of Beira will attract more trade, drive economic growth, enhance infrastructure capabilities, generate jobs, and increase revenue,” he emphasized.
Regarded as one of the most modern ports in Africa, the Port of Beira is strategically located in central Mozambique. It benefits from a strong transportation infrastructure, including rail and road links to countries in the region such as Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Last year, the port inaugurated a new refrigerated export yard, aimed at expanding capacity for handling temperature-controlled cargo for both export and import. This was in response to growing demand for refrigerated shipping, particularly for citrus fruits and seafood, two of the main export products along the Beira corridor.
In the first seven months of 2024, the port’s general cargo terminal saw a 24% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The container terminal also posted strong growth of 40%, handling 226,000 containers over that time. Zimbabwe remains the largest user of the port infrastructure for exports, including chrome, lithium, petalite, and tobacco.
In 2023, the Mozambican government announced a $290 million investment to expand and modernize the port, with the aim of increasing container handling capacity from the current 300,000 to 700,000 containers per year.
Source: DE
