South Africa's AI Success Hinges on Network Infrastructure

South Africa's AI adoption is accelerating, with PwC projecting a 1.2 percentage point GDP contribution over the next decade. However, a KPMG survey reveals 71% of African CEOs investing in AI cite operational integration as their top challenge, with many building on outdated network foundations ill-equipped for AI-scale demands. Traditional networks were not designed for AI's intensive east-west data traffic and ultra-low latency requirements. Experts argue organisations must shift toward AI-native networks with embedded intelligence, enabling predictive management and real-time performance. Without this transformation, early productivity gains risk plateauing as technical debt accumulates and AI investment returns erode.