Siemens is expanding its industrial-grade private 5G infrastructure to the United States and seven more countries. This expansion is facilitated by two new radio units that cover the 3.8–4.2 GHz band and the US-specific CBRS band, bringing the total number of countries served to 15 across Europe and the Americas. The dedicated CBRS-band radio unit enables US manufacturers to deploy Siemens' private 5G independently on their own premises, supporting a broad range of industrial sectors – including manufacturing, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, intralogistics, heavy industries, and crane operations.

Vertiv, a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, today announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire ThermoKey S.p.A., a leading provider of heat rejection and heat-exchange technologies with long-standing relationships across original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and system integrators. This move is part of Vertiv’s ongoing investment in advanced cooling solutions to support high-density AI data centres. Upon completion, the acquisition is expected to expand Vertiv’s thermal management portfolio and manufacturing capabilities, especially in EMEA, and enhance its capacity to deliver comprehensive solutions across the entire thermal chain for AI factories and high-density data centres.

Industrial Control Systems (ICS) form the backbone of modern infrastructure, powering everything from utilities and manufacturing to transportation and energy. For electrical contractors, the responsibility of installing and maintaining these systems—especially SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), and Remote Terminal Units (RTUs)—presents not only technical challenges but also critical security considerations. As the threat landscape develops, securing ICS against malware and hacking is no longer optional; it is essential for operational integrity, safety, and client confidence.

By Wiaan Vermaak, Group Chief Commercial Officer at Digital Parks Africa

In 2026, Africa’s data centre industry stands at a critical point, driven by regional growth, evolving regulations, and an urgent push for data sovereignty. South Africa remains the continent’s digital hub, yet it is approaching capacity limits as infrastructure and power constraints intensify.

By Hennie Smith, Solution Architect, Industry Automation at Schneider Electric 

Industrial automation is undoubtedly one of the most exciting solution frameworks and work methodologies today. As data volumes grow exponentially, developers are working just as hard to deliver technology that can keep pace with the industry’s rapid requirements.