Africa’s largest carrier-neutral data center provider, Africa Data Centers (ADC), has launched a 10.65-megawatt data center facility in Lagos, Nigeria.
The new facility, tagged LOS1 Data Center, was set up to deepen data infrastructure and drive technology-driven solutions throughout West Africa.
In data center terms, the facility, the single largest data center in Africa outside South Africa, will allow hyper-scale customers of Africa Data Centers to deploy digitization solutions in the region.
Africa Data Centers operates as an affiliate of Cassava Technologies, a fiber and telecom solutions group founded by Zimbabwe’s richest man and leading African tech entrepreneur Strive Masiyiwa.
The launch is a significant step forward for the organization’s ambitious strategy to digitize Africa. The move adds to its data centers in Johannesburg, Nairobi, Cape Town, Harare and Kigali.
The company believes the new facility is the start of a digital transformation for the region, as multinational enterprises seek to be housed under the same roof as hyper-scale customers.
The facility will enable clients to process a high volume of data messages with minimal delay.
Africa Data Centers CEO Stephane Duproz, in his comment during the launch ceremony in Lagos, said the new facility will play a crucial role in delivering the digital infrastructure required to facilitate the adoption of the region’s digital services by consumer businesses.
He explained that the ADC is set to execute one of the most significant plans in Africa, which will forever transform the African technology ecosystem for good.
“These plans are the greatest Africa has ever seen,” he said. “They will see us build some ten interconnected, cloud- and carrier-neutral data centers across the length and breadth of the continent, in an unmatched $500 million investment in Africa’ digital transformation, which will double our already significant investment in the continent.”
The opening of the new data center comes after the leading carrier-neutral data center provider in Africa successfully secured R4 billion ($254.6 million) in investment to expand its presence in South Africa, the continent’s most industrialized economy.
In addition, the company is developing a second data center with an IT load of up to 20MW in Nairobi, Kenya. Its $200-million investment in the project will double the country’s data center capacity.
