Telecom
Airtel Africa Commences Construction of Nxtra, Airtel’s First Data Centre in Nigeria
Airtel Africa, provider of telecommunications and mobile money services with a presence in 14 countries across Africa, has officially broken ground on its first data centre in Lagos, Nigeria.
Nxtra by Airtel is set to be one of the largest networks of data centres in Africa, with high-capacity data centres in major cities located strategically across Airtel Africa’s footprint, complementing its existing edge sites.
This development underscores the company’s commitment to meeting the continent’s data management needs by providing trusted and sustainable data centre capacity to serve the fast-growing African digital economy.
The ground-breaking ceremony of the new data centre, situated on Lagos’s Victoria Island, was hosted by Airtel Africa’s outgoing Group Chief Executive Officer, Segun Ogunsanya and his successor, Sunil Taldar.
It attracted key dignitaries and industry leaders including Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani; Heads of Federal and State Ministries and Parastatals, and Members of the National and State Assemblies, among others.
Speaking during the event, Segun Ogunsanya, Group Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Africa, said the Nxtra project marks a significant milestone in the company’s journey and is a cornerstone of the organization’s growth strategy, with a particular focus on Nigeria, its largest market.
“We strongly believe that the establishment of NXtra Data Centers will enhance data sovereignty, security, and preservation within the continent, reflecting our commitment to make Nigeria a major hub for access to digital services as we propel Africa towards a sustainable and inclusive digital age,” he said.
Mr Ogunsanya added that: “This mega project will provide over 1000 jobs. And more significantly, once deployed and at capacity, it will create over 250 permanent jobs for Nigerians whilst supporting companies in the manufacturing, financial services, health care as they move their data and computing into third party data centers like ours. Ultimately, we have to store data and content closer to where it is being consumed.”
Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said, “The NXtra Frontier is not merely the construction of a facility, but the dawn of a new era in data control, security, and preservation throughout Africa. Airtel’s commitment to the highest standards in data management, technological innovation, and extensive network infrastructure is truly commendable.
With a total capacity of 180 MW distributed across 13 major Data Centers and over 48 Edge Data Centers, NXtra is poised to redefine data storage and accessibility in Africa.”
Also speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani extolled the revolutionary opportunities ahead for business and the economy in a future driven by connectivity via data centers such as NXtra and powered by technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) that the future of business.
“Data is a key driver in our economy. Not only do we need to connect our people, we also must invest in the digital economy, and through the investment that companies like Airtel have made in our economy, we are fully able to participate in the digital economy.”
The Nxtra by Airtel data centre in Lagos will deliver 38 megawatts of total power and host high density racks that integrate the latest best practice construction to achieve 1.3 power usage effectiveness (PUE). It is expected to be live by the first quarter of 2026.
The Lagos data centre facility will be the first of five hyperscale data centres to be developed by Airtel Africa on the continent. Combined, these data centres will offer a robust 180-megawatt capacity, distributed across 13 major data centre and over 48 edge data centres. Coupled with Airtel Africa’s extensive fibre footprint, Nxtra offers secure and scalable integrated solutions to global hyper-scalers, large African enterprises, startups, SMEs and governments.
Through locally available data centre capacity, speed to access digital services will improve and the cost of managing data will be reduced, thus helping power increased innovation, while supporting a new generation of African tech talent. Furthermore, Nxtra is enabling customers meet data sovereignty requirements while at the same time enabling more local cloud services to be offered in the countries where Airtel Africa operates.
Telecom
Airtel Africa-UNICEF Partnership Connects 1,200 Schools, 1M Africa Children to Digital Education
Airtel Africa, a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services across 14 African countries, has today announced that its five-year partnership with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), aimed at transforming education across the continent, has connected over 1,500 schools to the internet, trained 17,000 teachers, and reached nearly a million learners with quality digital education resources across 13 African countries.
The partnership was launched in 2021 as part of Airtel Africa’s $57 million commitment to support the development of education and bridge the digital divide for vulnerable children in remote communities in collaboration with African governments.
Since the commencement of the partnership, Airtel Africa has prioritised the accessibility of online learning resources, including zero-rated educational platforms and teacher training, to support equitable learning opportunities for Africa’s children.
Airtel Africa CEO, Sunil Taldar, speaking on the success of the partnership while marking this year’s World’s Children’s Day said: “Our mission is to transform lives, and through our collaboration with UNICEF, we are witnessing the profound impact that connectivity and digital resources can have on Africa’s children and teachers.
For every school we have connected and for each teacher trained on using these digital tools, we are taking tangible steps toward realizing our commitment to bridging the digital divide, advancing educational equality and restating our commitment to the relentless pursuit of a better future for African children on the continent.
According to Mr. Taldar, “by equipping these schools with internet connectivity and training teachers on how to use the digital tools, Airtel Africa and UNICEF are providing Africa’s children, particularly those in underserved and remote regions, with the digital tools and skills they need to thrive in a technology-driven world.
This is why we are celebrating with the children on this special occasion of World Children’s Day, specially dedicated to them and all the effort aimed at securing and improving their future.
The partnership has expanded digital learning to learners in 13 countries since its launch. The countries include Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
Telecom
Galaxy Backbone, Bauchi State Government Sign Landmark MOU to Enhance Digital Infrastructure and ICT Capacity
In a significant step towards advancing digital transformation and fostering economic development, Galaxy Backbone (GBB) and the Bauchi State Government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on deploying digital infrastructure and ICT-related services across the state.
The signing ceremony, held at the Government House of the Bauchi State Government, was graced by the Managing Director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, Professor Ibrahim A. Adeyanju, and the Governor of Bauchi State, His Excellency, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Muhammed.
This MOU establishes a collaborative framework between Galaxy Backbone and the Bauchi State Government, leveraging GBB’s world-class data center infrastructures in Abuja and Kano. The partnership is designed to enhance connectivity, build ICT capacity, provide consultancy services, and deliver hosted ICT services to improve governance and service delivery in Bauchi State.
The agreement was formalized by Professor Ibrahim A. Adeyanju and His Excellency, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammed, symbolizing a shared commitment to transforming Bauchi State through ICT. It is expected that through this, it would lead to an enhancement of Bauchi State’s ICT Infrastructure, through GBB’s resources and expertise, deepen training and consultancy services, while, enhancing economic growth to attract investments, create jobs, and drive economic opportunities through improved digital connectivity and service delivery within the state.
Speaking at the event, Professor Ibrahim A. Adeyanju, MD/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, said: “This MOU underscores Galaxy Backbone’s commitment to supporting state governments in building resilient digital infrastructure and services ecosystems. Through this partnership, we aim to deliver cutting-edge ICT services that will drive digital transformation and economic growth in Bauchi State.”
His Excellency, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammed, expressed his optimism for the collaboration, noting: “This partnership with Galaxy Backbone marks a pivotal moment for Bauchi State. By leveraging advanced ICT infrastructure and expertise, we are poised to transform our state into a hub of digital innovation, ensuring efficient governance and improved service delivery for our citizens.”
This collaboration aligns with Galaxy Backbone’s mission to extend its digital infrastructure footprint across Nigeria, providing state governments with the tools they need to thrive in the digital economy.
Telecom
Treepz Embarks on Global Expansion Journey with Trade Accelerator Program
Treepz, a leading corporate mobility startup in sub-Saharan Africa renowned for its safe and convenient transport solutions, has been selected by the World Trade Center for the 2024 Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) in Toronto, Canada.
This prestigious opportunity is in line with Treepz’s ongoing global expansion strategy to export its indigenous and innovative mobility solutions to new international markets.
The Trade Accelerator Program (TAP), organized in partnership with the Black Entrepreneurship Alliance, is designed to help high-potential small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) strategically scale their operations globally through personalized mentorship series, workshops and an unrivalled network of export advisors and world-class resources.
The program is expected to last for three months, with selected brands, including Treepz, undergoing various networking and mentorship programs.
Since its launch in 2019, Treepz has gathered momentum in the African mobility industry by providing cutting-edge solutions to address the prevalent transportation challenges across Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana and Kenya.
The startup has served over 5 million people with on-demand tech-enabled vehicle rental solutions such as guest transportation, school bus shuttling, and airport transfers, and currently operates in 16 cities across the continent.
Speaking on the program, Onyeka Akumah, Founder & CEO of Treepz, attributed the honours of the invitation to the team’s dedicated effort at Treepz to provide innovative solutions that meet the growing needs of diverse customers.
He noted that “The TAP Tech Toronto program is an invaluable opportunity for Treepz to further showcase new indigenous ideas we have for our customers on a global scale.” said Onyeka Akumah, Founder & CEO of Treepz.
“Additionally, this is a testament to our vision and goal to build a world-class mobility company. It is our time to say we are taking solutions built in Africa to the world. The solutions to transportation needs we’ve built in Africa have a global use case and we are set to take advantage of this opportunity to export African-grown solutions globally”.
“We would like to thank the World Trade Centre in Toronto for believing in our vision and selecting us for this prestigious program.
“We are confident that the experience from this program will be transformative for our startup, and we can’t wait to see where it takes us”, Onyeka added.
Recall that earlier this year, Treepz achieved significant milestones, including winning Best Startup Pitch in Africa at the 2024 African Union Conference in Zambia and becoming the first corporate mobility startup in Africa to complete an international cross-border rental trip.
The company has also secured key partnerships with many corporates to provide close to 10,000 daily employee transportation to companies like KingMakers (owners of BetKings) and Parallex Bank in Nigeria, SamaSource in Kenya, BrighterMonday in Uganda and several schools in Ghana.
This push continues to cement Treepz’s position as a leader in the African mobility landscape with more than 5 million customers served on the continent, reflecting Treepz’s commitment to driving innovative, scalable and indigenous solutions that meet the evolving transportation needs of Africa and beyond.
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