Airtel has started work on what is set to be East Africa’s largest data centre at Kenya’s Tatu City Special Economic Zone
The Nxtra Data Centre facility will deliver 44MW of IT power capacity in phases, and house new-generation servers as well as high-density GPU-ready racks with 99.999% uptime, multiple redundant fibre paths, and advanced security systems.
The data centre hub is supported by Tatu City's provision of 95% renewable energy, making the location one of the greenest in the world for data centre investors and clients.
“By building the largest data centre in East Africa, we are laying the groundwork for a thriving digital ecosystem that empowers businesses, supports governments, and unlocks new opportunities for communities across the region,” said Yashnath Issur, CEO, data centre, Airtel Africa.
“Nxtra by Airtel will be built to the highest global standards, ensuring reliability, scalability, and energy efficiency. Beyond capacity, our focus is on sustainability and resilience, enabling customers to fully leverage next-generation technologies in a secure environment."
Tatu City, a 5,000-acre new city on Nairobi's doorstep, is Kenya's first operational Special Economic Zone, located 30 minutes from Nairobiand being developed by Rendeavour.
It has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in world-class infrastructure to become East Africa's data centre hub.
The city's utilities include a 135MVA power substation and distribution network with 99.7% uptime, the country's only location with 24/7 water supply for industries, comprehensive storm water management, 70km of international-standard roads, and more than 120km of secure underground fibre.
“For more than a decade, we have invested in world-class infrastructure and sustainable energy at Tatu City to make it the natural home for data centres in East Africa,” said Stephen Jennings, founder & CEO of Rendeavour.
“Airtel's decision to locate Nxtra here is a powerful endorsement of this vision. As Nxtra joins over 100 global and local companies already thriving at Tatu City, we are confident that many more data centres will follow.”
One third of Tatu City’s energy demand is met directly by solar power, which is boosted by Kenya's predominantly renewable national grid.
Other major businesses already operating at Tatu City include Emirates Logistics and Heineken.
Nxtra data centre rising in Kenya’s Tatu City
Groundbreaking ceremony of the Nxtra by Airtel Africa 44MW Data Centre at Tatu City SEZ, Kenya (Image source: Tatu City)
