Vertiv and Nxtra are setting a new benchmark for data infrastructure in Africa

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.

Orange links Mediterranean to global digital

With the arrival of this new submarine cable, Orange reinforces its commitment to international connectivity and digital dynamism in the Mediterranean through the continued expansion of its infrastructure in Marseille

Thanks to its fully redundant fibre optic infrastructure, Orange will provide customers with simple, secure, and direct access to all the city’s data centres, which are now interconnected. This enhances the resilience of access and enables direct links to major European hubs such as Paris, London, and Frankfurt, as well as the rest of the world, including Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

This turnkey solution strengthens Marseille’s position as a global interconnection hub. All aspects of the cable are fully managed by Orange, including technical, regulatory, security, and environmental considerations.

An additional link for Mediterranean connectivity

As the Medusa system’s first landing in Europe, this new cable forms part of the ongoing development of submarine networks connecting both sides of the Mediterranean. It will link Marseille to Bizerte in Tunisia (Via Tunisia project announced by Orange in April 2023). This 1,050 km segment will meet the growing demand for bandwidth in the region.

A project supported by the European Union

The Marseille–Bizerte segment benefits from co-financing by the European Union through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). Three pairs of fibre belonging to Orange are supported within the European Global Gateway strategy, aimed at strengthening connections between Europe and Africa, supporting the digital transition, and reducing the digital divide.

Michael Trabbia, CEO of Orange Wholesale, stated, "We are proud to bring our leadership and expertise to the Medusa cable, hosted within our secure infrastructure in Marseille, with laying operations carried out by our cable ships, Teliri and Sophie Germain. Our infrastructure offers a key link in Mediterranean basin connectivity, ensuring digital resilience and supporting socio-economic development. With this landing, Orange enhances Europe's digital sovereignty and positions Marseille as a global digital hub, now hosting the arrival of 17 submarine cables connected worldwide."

The Medusa cable provider is Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN). Elettra Tlc, a subsidiary of Orange and the project coordinator, managed the operation. Orange Marine’s cable ship Sophie Germain was responsible for the cable landing operations in Marseille.

An environmentally respectful approach

To protect local ecosystems, the landing operation was conducted via horizontal directional drilling, respecting regional environmental objectives, including bypassing Posidonia meadows and the Calanques park.

The cable laying was executed by the Sophie Germain, a state-of-the-art, low environmental impact cable ship.

Orange, a key player in global connectivity

As a major player in international connectivity and submarine cables, Orange continues to invest heavily in future digital infrastructure. The Group is involved in over 40 submarine cables, representing nearly 450,000 km of networks worldwide.

Its subsidiaries Elettra Tlc and Orange Marine, specialising in cable ships, manage engineering, installation, and maintenance of these cables, ensuring Orange’s complete control over the value chain, from design to operation.

LINX Accra goes live

The London Internet Exchange (LINX) has officially announced that its new interconnection point in Ghana, LINX Accra, is now operational

As LINX’s first presence in West Africa, this milestone underscores the organisation’s mission to advance interconnection, strengthen digital infrastructure, and enhance end user experience across the continent. The technical deployment of LINX Accra has been successfully completed at two major data centre locations, Onix and PAIX, forming the foundation of the first phase of this strategic interconnection hub.

The LINX fabric links these sites through redundant fibre routes, a design that distinguishes LINX from other Internet Exchange Points (IXPs). This setup allows networks at both sites to exchange traffic through a method known as peering, a low latency and cost efficient way of routing network traffic. LINX brings over 30 years of global interconnection expertise to support this initiative in the region.

LINX Accra provides a neutral and future ready platform where Internet Service Providers (ISPs), content providers, cloud services, and enterprises can exchange data locally.

Jennifer Holmes, CEO for LINX, stated, “The launch of LINX Accra is a major step forward in our commitment to supporting digital transformation across Africa. By enabling local traffic exchange, and connecting Onix and PAIX via our fabric, we’re helping to build a stronger, more resilient and higher performing internet ecosystem in the region.”

A third interconnection point will soon follow with the launch of the Digital Realty data centre in Accra, which will expand the LINX Accra platform to three sites.

Nurani Nimpuno, head of global engagement for LINX, highlighted the importance of collaboration in such projects, “We are lucky to have such engaged data centre partners here in Ghana. When building IXPs in new geographics, collaboration is key. Our data centre partners are a key part of our business case when building in new locations and success is very much a team effort.”

LINX Accra is now live and open for peering. A 10GE port with 2Gbps of service is included in the US$130 monthly LINX membership fee.

SEACOM and SENTECH join forces to boost SMMEs. (Image source: SEACOM)

SEACOM, Africa’s leading digital infrastructure and services provider, and SENTECH, a prominent broadcast and digital services company, have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate the growth of small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) within South Africa’s telecommunications sector

The agreement, finalised at SEACOM’s Johannesburg offices on 29 September 2025, sets out a 12-month collaboration to enhance the role of SMMEs in the country’s digital economy. The partnership acknowledges the critical contribution of SMMEs in driving economic growth, creating employment, and shaping South Africa’s digital future.

Building digital inclusion through partnership

SEACOM and SENTECH aim to strengthen the SMME ecosystem by providing mentorship, training, funding, and access to shared innovation platforms, thereby promoting digital inclusion.

Key focus areas include:

• SMME empowerment and inclusion – Targeted enterprise development programmes, improved infrastructure access, personalised mentorship, and public events will support and showcase SMME innovations.

• Infrastructure expansion – Leveraging SEACOM’s fibre network and SENTECH’s service reach, SMMEs will gain opportunities in rural and underserved areas, expanding market access.

• Skills development – SMMEs will receive practical training in fibre, cloud, and broadcasting technologies, participate in internships, and access resources to boost digital literacy, particularly in townships.

• Content and cloud services – Affordable hosting, hybrid content delivery, and digital migration support will enable SMMEs and local creators to launch new digital offerings.

• Public sector collaboration – SMMEs can join larger ICT projects, engage in policy advocacy, and access research insights to leverage technologies like 5G, IoT, and AI.

SMMEs remain vital to South Africa’s economy, representing around 91% of formal businesses, contributing 34% to GDP, and employing 60% of the workforce. Despite their importance, SMMEs face challenges such as high infrastructure costs, skills gaps, and regulatory barriers.

Anton Jooste, SEACOM managing director for digital services (South Africa), commented, "We are building a foundation for an inclusive and digital nation. By combining our strengths, this partnership directly addresses SMME challenges and enables broader participation in South Africa's digital economy, positioning SMMEs at the heart of national growth."

"This strategic partnership aligns with SEACOM's mission to transform the digital economy through inclusive participation and underscores the critical role of SMMEs in driving growth and job creation in South Africa," remarked Jooste

SEACOM’s Legacy of Digital Leadership

Since launching Africa’s first submarine cable on the east coast in 2009, SEACOM has revolutionised digital connectivity across the continent. By reducing the cost of international bandwidth, it enabled South Africa’s first uncapped broadband products, fostering the growth of cloud services, fintech platforms, and digital innovation ecosystems.

Today, SEACOM continues to lead Africa’s digital transformation with high-capacity connectivity linking the continent to Europe and Asia, serving enterprises, ISPs, mobile operators, and governments, reinforcing its role as a catalyst for economic growth and digital inclusion.