Airtel Africa, a major telecom and mobile money provider in 14 African countries, has started construction of its first data centre in Lagos.
Dubbed Nxtra by Airtel, the data centre aims to be a leading data centre network in Africa. High-capacity centres will be built in major cities across their footprint, complementing existing edge locations.
Airtel Africa CEO Segun Ogunsanya highlighted the project’s importance as a milestone and cornerstone of the company’s growth strategy, particularly in Nigeria, their largest market.
“Nxtra Data Centres will enhance data control, security, and preservation in Africa, reflecting our commitment to position Nigeria as a major hub for digital services and propel Africa towards a digital future,” he stated.
Ogunsanya added that the project will create over 1,000 jobs, with over 250 permanent positions upon completion. He emphasized the role of data centres in supporting businesses like manufacturing, finance, and healthcare in moving their data storage to third-party facilities.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu acknowledged the project’s significance, stating that Nxtra signifies a new era for data management and security in Africa. He commended Airtel’s commitment to high data management standards, technological innovation, and extensive network infrastructure.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Dr. Bosun Tijani spoke about the transformative potential for businesses and the economy in a future driven by data centres and technologies like Artificial Intelligence. He emphasized the crucial role of data in the economy and the importance of investments in the digital sector.
Key details about the data centre:
- Delivers 38 megawatts of total power.
- Utilizes high-density racks with advanced construction methods for efficient energy usage (1.3 PUE).
- Expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2026.
The Lagos facility is the first of five planned hyperscale data centre by Airtel Africa. Together, these centres will offer a robust 180-megawatt capacity spread across 13 major centres and over 48 edge locations.
