International Data Center Day: Celebrating the Backbone of Africa’s Digital Transformation

Every year, International Data Center Day serves as a global reminder of the critical role data centers play in powering the digital economy. As Africa undergoes a rapid digital transformation, data centers have become the backbone of this evolution—enabling cloud adoption, AI advancements, and seamless connectivity across the continent.

In Africa, where digital infrastructure is still developing, data centers are not just about storage and processing; they are essential for bridging the digital divide, supporting financial inclusion, and driving innovation in key industries like fintech, e-commerce, and telecommunications.

Recognizing the growing importance of data centers in shaping Africa’s digital future, TechAfrica News remains committed to spotlighting the ecosystem, its challenges, and the opportunities it presents. Through in-depth reporting, industry interviews, and exclusive insights, we continue to explore how data centers are fueling Africa’s digital ambitions.

To mark this year’s International Data Center Day, TechAfrica News, in collaboration with the Africa Data Centres Association (ADCA) and sponsored by Vertiv, hosted a pre-celebration gathering in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 13, 2025. The event brought together key industry stakeholders to discuss Africa’s data center landscape and efforts focused on data centers and the broader digital ecosystem.

“It is important to gather as an industry and have these conversations because data centers are the foundation of Africa’s digital transformation. As we accelerate connectivity, cloud adoption, and AI, the ecosystem must collaborate to ensure sustainable growth and innovation.” 

 – Akim Benamara, Chief Editor & Founder, TechAfrica News 

This exclusive gathering brought together key industry stakeholders with a shared mission: to drive Africa’s digital transformation through a thriving data center ecosystem. 

The event welcomed a dynamic mix of 25 industry leaders, investors, and technology providers, all playing a crucial role in shaping the future of digital infrastructure across the continent. Among the notable attendees were: Dan Kwach, Managing Director, East Africa Region at Africa Data Centres; Ville Wacklin, representing the Digital Investment Facility (DIF), who provided key updates on ongoing and upcoming digital infrastructure projects in Africa; Mary Kariuki, Marketing Manager for Digital Infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa Data Centres Association (ADCA); Rohan Patil, Sales Director, East Africa at Vertiv.  

The agenda for the event reflected a well-structured day of discussions, presentations, and networking focused on Africa’s evolving data center landscape. The Africa Data Centres Association (ADCA) kicked off the day with an introduction, setting the stage for critical conversations around the state of digital infrastructure on the continent. There were also insightful presentations including an analysis of East Africa’s data center market by DC Byte Virtual as well as Vertiv presenting key insights on digital infrastructure solutions for Africa.

The gathering also served as a platform for collaboration and networking, highlighting the collective efforts needed to scale digital infrastructure and ensure Africa remains at the forefront of global technological advancements.

“It was an incredible gathering, packed with insightful discussions, forward-thinking ideas, and a shared commitment to driving Africa’s digital infrastructure forward. It was great to see so much interest from industry leaders, all coming together to explore solutions for scaling data centers, embracing AI, and ensuring Africa remains competitive on the global stage. This level of engagement highlights the immense potential and collective effort required to shape the future of connectivity, cloud adoption, and digital transformation across the continent.”
– Mary Kariuki, Marketing Manager for Digital Infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa Data Centres Association (ADCA) 

A Yearlong Exploration of Africa’s Data Center Ecosystem 

As part of its commitment to fostering conversations around digital infrastructure, TechAfrica News, in partnership with the Africa Data Centres Association, announced the launch of content series dedicated to data centers and the broader ecosystem. This initiative will provide in-depth insights into Africa’s evolving digital infrastructure landscape, featuring expert interviews, trend analysis, and market outlooks. 

With Africa’s digital economy growing at an unprecedented rate, understanding the role of data centers has never been more important. This content series will spotlight the industry’s progress, challenges, and innovations, offering a deeper look into the developments shaping the continent’s digital future.  

Inside the Minds of Data Center Visionaries: Exclusive Conversations 

We gladly seized the opportunity to engage with industry leaders in deep, insightful conversations about the present and future of Africa’s data center industry. In our exclusive video interviews, experts shed light on the evolving landscape, the impact of AI, regulatory challenges, and the innovations shaping Africa’s digital infrastructure. 

Enabling Africa’s AI Future: Vertiv’s Vision for Data Center Infrastructure 

Rohan Patil, Sales Director-East Africa at Vertiv, highlighted the rapid growth of Africa’s data center industry, emphasizing the need for regulatory support, cost reduction, and advanced infrastructure to meet increasing AI-driven demands. He pointed out that South Africa and Nigeria currently lead in data center expansion, but East Africa is catching up due to investments from companies like Vertiv. AI is reshaping data center operations, requiring new cooling technologies like liquid cooling to manage power-hungry workloads. Patil stressed that a more unified regulatory framework and incentives such as tax breaks could accelerate investments and ensure Africa remains competitive in the global digital economy. 

“One of the key challenges we are discussing with global co-locators and hyperscalers is the cost to build in the region. The regulatory framework needs to support data center builds through tax incentives and duty breaks to ease the process. The demand is there, but regulatory slowdowns have made it difficult for investments to materialize fully. Countries like Kenya have made strides with data privacy laws, but a continental approach is needed to strengthen the market.” 

– Rohan Patil, Sales Director-East Africa, Vertiv

Africa Data Centres’ Role in Powering AI, Innovation, and Digital Growth 

Dan Kwach reflected on the progress of Africa’s data center industry, noting that AI is already disrupting operations and demanding a rethink of infrastructure design. He emphasized Africa’s advantages, such as abundant renewable energy, a skilled workforce, and improving regulatory frameworks, which make it an attractive investment destination for global hyperscalers. However, challenges like talent retention and the need for increased government support remain. Kwach sees an opportunity to develop homegrown expertise through training programs and partnerships. Despite obstacles, he remains optimistic about Africa’s digital transformation, driven by innovation, investment, and the continent’s growing digital economy.  

“We started our operations as a data center player back in 2012. So, we are literally speaking over 10 years of us being in the data center space, and for the very first time, we are now celebrating the International Data Center Day in Africa, right here in Kenya, with a lot of exciting things happening. So many other players have been coming to the very space that we are in, and that makes for a good thing. It’s a testament that we are in the right industry, doing the right thing to build digital infrastructure.” 

– Dan Kwach, Managing Director – East Africa Region at Africa Data Centres 

A Reaffirmed Commitment to Africa’s Digital Transformation 

As Africa’s digital economy expands, the role of data centers in driving connectivity, cloud adoption, and AI innovation cannot be overstated. The insights shared during International Data Center Day underscore the urgent need for investment, regulatory alignment, and cutting-edge infrastructure to support the continent’s digital ambitions. 

At TechAfrica News, we remain committed to spotlighting Africa’s data transformation, whivh very well included the data center revolution, providing in-depth coverage of key developments, challenges, and opportunities shaping the industry. As we continue these discussions, we invite you to stay engaged, explore expert perspectives, and gain valuable insights into the future of Africa’s digital infrastructure.  

We extend our gratitude to our partners, sponsors, industry leaders, and all who contributed to these important conversations. Their expertise and vision are instrumental in shaping a thriving, AI-ready, and globally competitive data center ecosystem for Africa.