Building Africa’s digital backbone

In a move set to reshape Africa’s data centre landscape, Vertiv, a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, has deepened its collaboration with Airtel Africa through its data centre division, Nxtra

The partnership begins in Nigeria, marking a major step toward Nxtra’s vision of building one of Africa’s largest networks of high-capacity data centres

The initiative underscores Africa’s growing need for robust digital infrastructure to support its rapidly expanding population and digital economy. Drawing from Nxtra’s extensive operational experience in India, the company aims to replicate its success in Africa by strategically establishing modern facilities in key cities.

“Nxtra has been a valued customer for nearly three decades,” said Karsten Winther, president of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at Vertiv. “This next chapter in our collaboration demonstrates the power of combining local support in Africa with international manufacturing and innovation.”

The first of these projects, located in Nigeria, will feature a 42-megawatt (MW) facility developed through a four-phase rollout and expected to be fully operational by 2028. Vertiv will provide thermal management systems and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units with batteries, ensuring energy efficiency, scalability, and reliability.

“As we invest into high-capacity, high-quality data centres for Africa, it was crucial to partner with a vendor who combines global capabilities with a strong local presence,” said Yash Issur, CEO of Nxtra by Airtel Africa. “Vertiv’s extensive multinational expertise, coupled with their established service team in Africa, provides us the reliability and support we need. We’re particularly pleased to name Vertiv as a main vendor for the first project in Nigeria and extend a collaboration ranging from India to Africa.”

Vertiv’s established Nigerian service team will oversee commissioning, handover, and five years of maintenance, providing vital local support to ensure seamless long-term operations.

A vision for sustainable expansion

According to Wojtek Piorko, managing director for Africa at Vertiv, Africa’s “data-hungry” population is a driving force behind the demand for more data centres. “Our collaboration in Africa with Nxtra marks an important milestone in strengthening Africa’s critical digital infrastructure,” he said. “Together, we are bringing proven global expertise and advanced technology into Nigeria and beyond.”

The partnership not only boosts connectivity but also represents a commitment to sustainable growth. Vertiv’s solutions will enable Nxtra to meet the region’s energy and efficiency demands while supporting environmental goals.

Looking beyond Nigeria, Nxtra and Vertiv are already planning future data centre developments in other Airtel Africa markets. The Nairobi-based facility is projected to surpass the Nigerian site in scale, reinforcing the companies’ long-term ambition to establish a continent-wide digital backbone that fuels innovation, drives local economies, and enhances Africa’s global connectivity.

With this collaboration, Vertiv and Nxtra are setting a new benchmark for data infrastructure in Africa, one that blends global expertise, local empowerment, and sustainable innovation to power the continent’s digital future.