Nxtra begins its expansion in Africa with the construction of its first-ever data center in Nigeria
March 13th 2024
Nxtra completes its entry into the African data center market. The subsidiary of the telecommunications group Airtel Africa launched, on Tuesday March 12, construction work on its very first installation in Lagos, Nigeria. The country constitutes the African market where Airtel operates with the most opportunities in telecoms and digital services.
With a capacity of 38 MW, the infrastructure is expected to be operational from the first quarter of 2026. “ The Nxtra data centers will strengthen data sovereignty, security and preservation on the continent, reflecting our commitment to making Nigeria a major hub for access to digital services, as we propel Africa towards a sustainable and inclusive digital era ,” said Segun Ogunsanya, Managing Director of Airtel Africa.
In December 2023, Airtel Africa launched the activities of its data center subsidiary called Nxtra by Airtel (Nxtra). The company intends to build an extensive network of data centers in Africa with high-capacity facilities in major cities within the coverage area. Nairobi in Kenya has been announced to host the company’s second data center.
Through this initiative, Airtel Africa aims to provide integrated, secure and scalable solutions to hyperscalers, large African companies, start-ups, SMEs and governments. The initiative could also allow the African subsidiary of the Indian company Bharti Airtel to diversify its sources of income. It had generated a turnover of $3.86 billion during the first nine months of 2023.
Airtel Africa is therefore positioning itself in a growing market in a context marked by strong demand for digital services. According to the report “Africa Data Center Market Size & Share Analysis – Growth Trends & Forecasts Up To 2029” from the market research firm Mordor Intelligence, the size of this market is expected to decrease from $740.2 million in 2024 to 1.7 billion in 2029, with a compound annual growth rate of 17.9%. The same report indicates that Nigeria had a 12.4% share of the African data center market in 2021 behind South Africa (around 63.1%).
Source: Agency EcoFin
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