New Data Centre Initiative Launches in Lagos and Durban

Data Centre Landscape in Africa

Overview of Opportunities

Africa presents both a significant opportunity and a notable challenge in the data centre sector. The demand across the continent far exceeds the current supply, which prompted the recent launch of a new data centre company, tailored to address this gap.

Investment in Infrastructure

Open Access Data Centres (OADC) recently unveiled a substantial investment plan exceeding $500 million. This initiative aims to establish over 20 carrier-neutral data centres across Africa, each earning accreditation from the Uptime Institute at Tier III. The focus is primarily on catering to the needs of both cloud providers and wholesale clients.

Strategic Development

OADC has mapped out plans for its data centres strategically throughout the continent. The aim is to enhance connectivity in key regions within each country to optimize service delivery.

Connection to Global Networks

OADC is a part of the West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC) Group, which has also announced a $200 million funding initiative. This capital raise is intended to bolster connectivity within Africa and on a global scale, aligning with OADC’s rollout plans.

Current Projects

Construction is already underway for OADC’s first two data centres located in Nigeria and South Africa, which represent Africa’s two largest markets. The facility in Lagos will be situated on the region’s largest data centre campus, directly connected to the Equiano submarine cable.

Expansion in Durban

The Durban facility will feature a cable landing station for the Durban branch of the 2Africa submarine cable and will integrate seamlessly with South Africa’s terrestrial fibre network.

Additional Developments in Somalia

In Mogadishu, Somalia, a third data centre is in the works. It will serve as a landing point for the Mogadishu branch of the 2Africa cable and will provide a variety of colocation services for both local and international businesses. OADC plans to welcome clients to this facility before the end of 2022.

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Ongoing Projects Across Africa

OADC has more projects planned at various stages of development across several African nations, highlighting the company’s proactive approach to expanding its footprint on the continent.

As the African data centre landscape continues to evolve, what challenges and advancements do you think will shape its future?