MTN expands AI-Ready data centre infrastructure across Africa

The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence is driving a new wave of demand for computing power, cloud services and data-intensive technologies

As African markets accelerate their digital transformation, the availability of reliable, scalable and locally based infrastructure is becoming increasingly important to the continent’s economic competitiveness.

In response to this growing requirement, MTN Digital Infrastructure has announced a strategic partnership with a UAE-based data centre investment platform to support the development of AI-ready digital infrastructure across Africa.

The collaboration forms part of MTN’s Ambition 2030 strategy and is intended to strengthen the infrastructure base needed to support the continent’s evolving digital economy. It will focus on creating platforms capable of meeting rising requirements from cloud providers, enterprises, digital businesses and AI applications.

The partnership will bring together MTN Digital Infrastructure’s established presence across African markets, infrastructure assets and local market expertise with the UAE investment platform’s experience in data centre development, investment and operations.

The two organisations will use Africa Data Hub Holding Limited as the vehicle for developing and expanding future digital infrastructure projects in selected African markets. South Africa and Nigeria will be the initial focus markets, with opportunities expected to be developed and scaled as demand increases.

Bayobab, MTN’s digital connectivity business and a shareholder in the partnership, will complement the initiative by providing open-access connectivity and go-to-market capabilities. Through its pan-African network, Bayobab will help connect customers to digital infrastructure services across different markets.

The UAE-based investment platform was established by Tarek Al Ashram, a data centre developer, operator and investor with experience in the Middle Eastern market.

"Africa's digital economy is entering a new era, driven by rapid advances in artificial intelligence, cloud adoption and digital innovation. Realising this opportunity requires more than connectivity. It requires the infrastructure platforms that will power the next generation of digital services, businesses and innovation," said Mazen Mroué, CEO of MTN Group Digital Infrastructure.

"This partnership is a step forward in the execution of our digital infrastructure strategy and demonstrates the power of collaboration. Together, we are bringing investment, infrastructure expertise, connectivity and market access into a single platform capable of supporting hyperscalers, cloud providers, enterprises and technology innovators across Africa."

The investment platform sees parallels between Africa’s developing digital infrastructure requirements and the growth experienced in the Middle East. It intends to apply its experience in developing and managing large-scale data centre facilities to African markets through the new platform.

“Over the past years, we have seen firsthand how the development of world-class data centre infrastructure can support the rapid growth of cloud, digital services and AI across the Middle East. Africa now presents a similarly compelling opportunity, driven by strong underlying demand, rapidly expanding digital economies and an increasing need for resilient and scalable infrastructure”, Tarek Al Ashram said.

“We see significant potential to bring our experience in developing and operating large-scale data centre platforms to African markets, and Africa Data Hub Holding Limited provides the right platform through which to invest in and help shape that growth. Combining this experience with MTN's extensive African footprint and deep understanding of its markets gives us a strong foundation from which to build and scale the platform across the continent.”

The new partnership is expected to support MTN’s broader objective of developing open and scalable digital infrastructure capable of enabling innovation and expanding economic opportunities.

By combining investment capacity, data centre expertise, connectivity and local market knowledge, Africa Data Hub Holding Limited is positioned to support the growing infrastructure requirements associated with cloud computing, enterprise digitisation and artificial intelligence.

The initiative also reflects the increasing importance of data centres to Africa’s digital development. As demand for AI and cloud-based services expands, locally hosted and resilient computing infrastructure will be essential to improving access to advanced technologies and supporting the growth of Africa’s digital economy.

Through the partnership, MTN aims to strengthen the infrastructure ecosystem needed for the continent’s next stage of digital growth while helping position African markets to participate more effectively in the global digital economy.