African telecommunications companies are hurrying to build data centres powered by green energy as the demand for digital services on the continent increases, driven by the largest youth demographic in the world.

Ayotunde Coker, chairman, Africa Data Centres Association

According to newscentral.africa, the continent has already established itself as a leader in mobile money, headlined by Kenya’s M-Pesa and various other mobile payment platforms, with 60% of the population using mobile devices to access the internet.

By the year 2025, an additional 167 million individuals in Sub-Saharan Africa are expected to subscribe to mobile services, totaling 623 million users, and the number of smartphone connections in the region is projected to more than double.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) estimates that Africa’s Internet economy could account for 5.2% of the continent’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025, which would contribute nearly US $180 billion to its economy.

Leading telecommunications companies across the continent are capitalizing on this demand opportunity—encouraged by initiatives to digitize education, healthcare, agricultural services, and governance—by preparing data centre projects they claim will rank among the largest and most environmentally friendly in the region.

In its 2024 sustainability report, Kenya’s major telecom firm, Safaricom, has detailed plans to build three Tier 3+ scale data centres as a component of its long-term vision to evolve from a telecommunications business to Africa’s foremost purpose-driven technology enterprise by 2030.

“The facility is equipped with a 200 kWp rooftop solar PV plant, with plans to scale up to 2MWp. Additionally, we are exploring partnerships with renewable energy producers to further enhance our commitment to sustainability,” according to the sustainability report.

In June, MTN Nigeria announced it was building a 1,500-rack, Tier 4 data centre to play a pivotal role in meeting the growing data demands and digital needs of businesses and consumers in the country.

In a LinkedIn post, Karl Olutokun Toriola, CEO, MTN Nigeria, said the facility will be the largest in West Africa upon completion and will enable the telco to respond swiftly to market demands and support businesses in Nigeria.

“Ultimately, this centre will play a vital role in supporting Nigerian businesses to collaborate through cloud services, expand their capabilities, and thrive,” said Toriola.

”Our commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles is reflected in the data centre’s eco-friendly design to utilize efficient cooling systems and a combination of traditional energy sources, gas, and renewable energy,” he added.

After launching a multi-million data centre business, Nxtra by Airtel, in December 2023 the telco broke ground in March to what it termed as one of Africa’s largest data centres in Lagos, Nigeria- with plans for more across the continent.

“Through this business we aim to create one of the largest networks of data centres in Africa with high-capacity facilities in major cities complementing our existing sites. We’re taking great care to incorporate modern energy efficiencies into our operations,” said Airtel Africa’s Sustainability Report 2024.

Africa Data Centres Association also affirms the expansion of industry due to the increasing demand for such facilities throughout the continent-citing Kenya, Morocco and South Africa as fast-growing markets- abeit with a huge infrastructure gap to fill in.

“Africa needs up to 1000 MW and 700 facilities to meet demand and bring capacity density on a par with that of South Africa, the region’s leader,” according to Data Centres in Africa focus report 2024.

Africa, the report shows accounted for less than 2% of global colocation Data Centres supply, with over half that total located in South Africa.

“The development of data centres is picking up pace due to strong demand from economic operators, as well as increasing awareness that African countries must establish their digital sovereignty in an increasingly competitive and complex world,” said Ayotunde Coker, chairman, Africa Data Centres Association.

Nigeria is listed in the data centres focus report as Africa’s largest digital economy with the internet contributing US$36.5 billion to its GDP, followed by South Africa(US$31.5 billion) and Egypt (US$26 billion).

Other large digital economies include Morocco(US$21.1 billion), Kenya(US$12.8 billion), and Algeria (US$11.9 billion).

Allied Market Research projects that the global market for DC provision will reach US$517.2 billion by 2030, up from an estimated of US$187.4 billion in 2020.

China has a new richest person and it’s the entrepreneur behind the app TikTok.

Zhang Yiming, 41, co-founder of TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, topped the 2024 Hurun China Rich List, released Tuesday, October 29.

His wealth reached $49.3 billion, as assessed by research, media and investment group Hurun Inc, which publishes the ranking of the country’s richest people.

Zhang’s ascendency comes after ByteDance’s global revenue grew 30% last year to $110 billion, Hurun said.

Since its official launch in May 2017, TikTok has been catapulted to mass global popularity as well as becoming an era-defining social media platform beloved by many young people around the world.

Zhang owns 20% of ByteDance, which he co-founded with college roommate Liang Rubo in Beijing in 2012. He stepped down as its CEO 2021 after building ByteDance into one of the biggest names in Chinese tech.

ByteDance also holds China’s popular news app Toutiao and Douyin, TikTok’s sister app in China.

Zhang’s rise to the top of the rich list knocked China’s “bottled water king” Zhong Shanshan out of the lead spot for the first time in three years, though he remained second.

Google.org has announced a N2.8 billion AI Talent Development grant to the country through the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy (FMCIDE).

This is in a bid to support Nigeria’s economic growth through AI development,

This groundbreaking ₦2.8 billion grant initiative aims to equip thousands of Nigerians with advanced AI skills to thrive in the global economy. Importantly, it seeks to transform the country’s digital ecosystem, creating benefits such as employment opportunities, infrastructure development, effective service provision in every sector, and ultimately, economic growth.

“This support from Google is a testament to our commitment to positioning Nigeria as a leader in AI innovation,” said Dr. Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.

“By leveraging Google’s expertise and resources, we are creating opportunities to equip Nigerians with the skills they need to thrive in the global digital economy. This is a major step forward in our journey toward a more inclusive and innovative future for all Nigerians,” he added.

In announcing the AI Talent Development funding, Matt Brittin, president of Google for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, expressed Google’s commitment to Africa’s innovation ecosystem, stating, “Across Africa, entrepreneurs are harnessing the power of technology, including AI, to address large-scale societal challenges.

Google remains committed to supporting these innovators, helping them expand their impact across the continent and beyond. Our work in Africa has always been about unlocking the benefits of the digital economy for more people, and this collaboration continues that mission.”

He noted that the initiative was a collaborative effort between the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) and Google to support AI-driven startups in Nigeria.

“I’m pleased to announce that Google.org is providing ₦2.8 billion (approximately $1.7 million) in funding to the Data Scientists Network Foundation, supporting the Honourable Minister’s vision for AI growth in Nigeria. This funding will be directed toward critical initiatives that advance AI skills and opportunities across the country.

“Through this grant, we’re supporting the FMCIDE’s 3 Million Technical Talents (3MTT) program, focusing on equipping 20,000 young Nigerians with advanced skills in AI and data science.

Additionally, the Experience AI Program, developed with the Raspberry Pi Foundation, will train 25,000 educators to inspire and educate 125,000 young learners, introducing them to AI fundamentals.

“We are also investing in the Government AI Campus Program, providing training and resources for Nigerian policymakers. This program will help ensure that as AI adoption accelerates, Nigeria’s public sector is well-equipped to navigate this landscape with a focus on responsible governance.

“The AI Fund, created in collaboration with NCAIR, is providing 10 promising Nigerian AI startups with ₦100 million in funding, alongside up to $3.5 million in Google Cloud Credits, mentorship from Google engineers, and technical support. This support will enable these startups to scale solutions that address local needs in areas like healthcare, energy, and security,” Brittin said.

Brittin also announced that selected startups addressing key societal challenges across sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and security will receive ₦100 million in funding. Additionally, these startups will benefit from $3.5 million in Google Cloud Credits, along with expert guidance from Google’s AI specialists.

Among the 10 chosen startups are BetaLife Health, an AI platform that addresses blood supply needs across Africa, and Trade Lenda, which leverages AI to streamline credit access for small and medium-sized enterprises.

These companies, alongside others such as Rana Energy and Towntalk, are tackling local issues with innovative AI solutions.

The Google chief also stressed that the economic potential for AI in Nigeria is vast. “AI has the potential to add as much as $15 billion to Nigeria’s economy by 2030.

By enabling entrepreneurs and digital talent to harness AI technology, this initiative aligns with Google’s commitment to driving sustainable growth in Nigeria’s economy.

This support builds on Google’s prior commitment of ₦1.2 billion in 2023, aimed at digital upskilling and economic empowerment across the country.”

According to the Communications Ministry, this announcement follows earlier efforts to introduce AI into Nigeria’s economic landscape, beginning with the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS) Workshop and the launch of the National AI Intelligence Strategy. The strategy aims to leverage AI to drive growth across key sectors, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for all Nigerians.

The Ministry, which praised Google for the significant grant, noted that the funding will tremendously expand government efforts, reinforcing Nigeria’s role as an AI leader within Af