Airtel Africa has recently been in the news, revealing its intention to open another data center in Nairobi, marking its second in Africa following Nigeria.

The objective? Diversifying revenue streams. The company is eyeing a 7-megawatt capacity center in Kenya, following its 36-megawatt facility in Lagos, Nigeria.

Airtel Africa CEO, Segun Ogunsanya, states that construction is set to commence soon in Nigeria, with completion expected in Kenya by mid-2026. He underscores the significance of these data centers as crucial assets in their portfolio, highlighting their commercial viability.

Airtel’s strategic shift involves moving away from traditional telecommunications and mobile money towards data services. The aim is to reduce data management costs and enhance digital service accessibility through the establishment of local data centers. This initiative is anticipated to foster innovation and support Africa’s emerging tech talent.

Having launched Nxtra, its data hub business, in December 2023, Airtel Africa plans to establish smaller data centers for its mobile cable landing stations in Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Gabon, in addition to Lagos and Nairobi.

Simultaneously, the telco announces increased investment in Kenya, focusing on voice and mobile money services. In February 2023, the company disclosed plans to introduce 5G in Kenya. Its network infrastructure covers 3,200 sites, catering to 89% of Kenya’s 47 counties.

News Source: Techpoint africa