AFRICA Data Centres (ADC), a Cassava Technologies group company, has announced a strategic partnership with The London Internet Exchange (LINX) to explore growth opportunities in both current and new markets throughout Africa. The collaboration aims to add value to local network communities, LINX membership, and data centre facilities across the continent.
Tesh Durvasula, CEO of Africa Data Centres, emphasised the significance of their pan-African Interconnection partnership in unlocking opportunities continent-wide. The objective is to contribute to the development of sustainable and self-sufficient ICT ecosystems while driving digital transformation and connectivity across Africa.
Recent research conducted by Accenture into the ICT ecosystem indicates that Africa is on the verge of a tech explosion. Certain countries, such as Kenya, Morocco, Senegal, and South Africa, are projected to have their economies powered by the internet (iGDP) reach nearly 6 percent by 2050, similar to the current level in the United States. Other countries, including Ghana, are expected to reach iGDP levels of 4 to 5 percent, comparable to Brazil’s current level.
Data centres play a crucial role in supporting economic growth on the continent, serving as the foundation for developing sustainable ICT ecosystems. Recognising this, Africa Data Centres unveiled ambitious expansion plans in September 2021, with a $500 million investment in new hyperscale data centres across Africa.
‘Building new facilities is the one path that Africa can take to address the growing need for storage and networking that are crucial to digitising Africa and bringing digital services to its citizens,’ explains Durvasula.
Africa Data Centres currently operates the largest network of interconnected, carrier- and cloud-neutral data centre facilities in Africa, with nine facilities across six countries. As market leaders, the company consistently announces new builds in existing markets and plans for facilities in underserved or untapped markets.
LINX, renowned for delivering redundant and resilient interconnection solutions at their global Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), brings its expertise to the partnership. The collaboration between ADC and LINX is poised to enhance connectivity and drive the availability of digital services in emerging markets across Africa.
Nurani Nimpuno, Head of Global Engagement at LINX, expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating, ‘This new partnership is the recipe for great things to enhance connectivity and digital services in new and emerging markets across Africa.’ Nimpuno highlighted Africa Data Centres’ extensive network of interconnected facilities on the continent, making them an ideal partner to meet the predicted growth and demand in the ICT sector, ultimately making digital services accessible to millions of citizens across Africa.