Airtel Africa marked a significant milestone with the commencement of construction on its first data center, "Nxtra," in Lagos, Nigeria. This initiative reflects the company's commitment to becoming a prominent player in Africa's data center landscape.
The groundbreaking ceremony held on Victoria Island witnessed the presence of key dignitaries, including outgoing Group CEO Segun Ogunsanya and incoming CEO Sunil Taldar of Airtel Africa, alongside Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Communications Minister Bosun Tijani, and other government officials.
Ogunsanya emphasized the project's importance, stating it represents a cornerstone of the company's growth strategy, particularly focusing on its largest market, Nigeria. He highlighted Nxtra's potential to:
Boost data sovereignty and security: Nxtra aims to keep data storage and management within the continent.
Position Nigeria as a digital hub: This project reinforces Nigeria's role in facilitating access to digital services across Africa.
Drive job creation: Over 1,000 jobs are anticipated during construction, with over 250 permanent positions opening upon completion.
Governor Sanwo-Olu acknowledged Nxtra as a pivotal development, marking a new era for data control and accessibility across Africa. He commended Airtel's commitment to data security, innovation, and infrastructure development.
Minister Tijani emphasized the transformative potential of Nxtra and similar data centers. He highlighted data as a crucial economic driver and recognized the investment's contribution to fostering Nigeria's participation in the digital economy.
Key features of the Nxtra data center:
Capacity: 38 megawatts of total power.
Efficiency: Designed to achieve a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.3.
Completion target: First quarter of 2026.
This facility represents the first of five planned hyperscale data centers across Africa by Airtel Africa. Collectively, these centers will offer a combined capacity of 180 megawatts, with support from 13 major data centers and over 48 edge data centers.
Expected benefits:
Reduced data management costs: Local data storage eliminates the need for expensive overseas solutions.
Improved service access: Faster access to digital services due to geographically closer data storage.
Enhanced innovation: Reduced data storage costs can fuel a surge in local technological advancements.
Data sovereignty compliance: Nxtra allows businesses to meet local data residency regulations.
Development of local cloud services: The project facilitates the growth of local cloud service providers within Airtel Africa's operating territories.
By establishing a robust data center network, Airtel Africa positions itself as a key player in Africa's digital transformation journey. This initiative fosters data security, economic growth, and the development of a skilled local workforce, paving the way for a more prosperous digital future for the continent.
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