MTN Unveils High-Capacity Data Center to Power Nigeria’s Tech Advancement
MTN Nigeria has officially made a significant stride into Nigeria’s data hosting and cloud market with the launch of its Dabengwa Sifiso Data Centre in Ikeja, Lagos. This state-of-the-art facility, named in honor of the late Sifiso Dabengwa, a former MTN Group CEO, is poised to be a game-changer for Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
The project represents a massive investment by MTN. The first phase of this Tier III data center has an IT load capacity of 4.5 megawatts (MW) and houses 780 server racks across three floors. This initial phase alone cost $100 million for infrastructure and an additional $20 million for cloud infrastructure, totaling $120 million.
The entire project is planned in two phases, with a total estimated investment of $235 million (some reports even suggest up to $255 million). When fully completed, the data center is designed to deliver a 9MW IT load, with the potential to expand further to 14MW or even 20MW based on future demand. Phase 2 is also expected to achieve Tier IV certification, ensuring even higher levels of redundancy and uptime.
The launch of the Dabengwa Sifiso Data Centre holds immense strategic importance for Nigeria:
Data Sovereignty:
A primary goal is to enhance Nigeria’s data sovereignty. By hosting local data within Nigeria, the facility ensures that sensitive information remains within the country’s borders, complying with the Nigeria Data Protection Act and strengthening national security. This reduces reliance on offshore cloud providers and mitigates risks associated with international internet disruptions, like those caused by undersea cable failures.
Reduced Costs and Foreign Exchange Risk:
One of the most compelling advantages for Nigerian businesses is the ability to pay for cloud services in Nigerian Naira rather than US Dollars. This eliminates foreign exchange risks and significantly reduces operational costs for local enterprises, making advanced cloud computing more accessible and affordable.
Competition with Hyperscalers:
MTN aims to directly compete with global cloud giants such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. The data center, along with the accompanying MTN Cloud platform, offers self-orchestration capabilities, allowing businesses and developers to independently manage their computing and storage needs remotely, similar to international offerings but with localized benefits.
Catalyst for Digital Transformation:
The facility is designed to support high-performance computing, e-government services, and the rapidly growing fintech ecosystem. It provides the robust and reliable infrastructure needed to accelerate digital transformation across various industries, from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to large corporations and government entities.
AI and Future Technologies Readiness:
With its advanced capabilities, the data center is future-proofed to support the inevitable surge in Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption and other emerging technologies, ensuring Nigeria is well-equipped to leverage future advancements.
Local Innovation and Job Creation:
By providing enterprise-grade infrastructure locally, the data center is expected to foster innovation among Nigerian startups and create new opportunities for local tech talent, contributing to the country’s economic diversification.
Resilience and Reliability:
The data center boasts significant resilience. It’s designed to withstand earthquake-level shocks (Level 9), despite Nigeria’s low seismic risk, and features “seven degrees” of diverse fiber redundancy, ensuring maximum uptime and reliability for critical applications. Its modular design allows for “hot swaps,” meaning components can be replaced without downtime.
The launch of the Dabengwa Sifiso Data Centre is a key pillar in MTN’s broader “Ambition 2025″ strategy, which aims to transform the company from a traditional telecommunications operator into a comprehensive technology company (“techco”). This investment underscores MTN’s commitment to building out its infrastructure business and offering a wider range of digital platforms and services beyond mobile connectivity.
In essence, MTN Nigeria’s Dabengwa Sifiso Data Centre is not just a technological marvel but a strategic national asset that marks a defining moment in Nigeria’s journey towards digital self-sufficiency, economic growth, and a prominent position in Africa’s digital landscape.
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