• ST Digital opens Tier 3 data center in Côte d’Ivoire
• Facility boosts local data control, security, and digital services
• Center to support jobs, skills, and national digital sovereignty

Pan-African IT services company ST Digital inaugurated a Tier 3 data center on Thursday, October 2, at the VITIB technology free zone in Grand-Bassam. The facility, the first of its kind in  Côte d’Ivoire, is designed to provide a foundation for more secure and autonomous management of national data.

“This tool takes our digital dynamic to a new level. In a context where digitalization is accelerating and cyberattacks are multiplying, having local infrastructure is essential to protect our data,” said Anthony Same, CEO of ST Digital Group.

The data center is structured around three modules and can accommodate approximately 160 racks of 42 servers each, totaling more than 6,000 physical servers and over 50,000 virtual servers. According to Steve Tchouaga, general manager of the Ivorian subsidiary, the facility is “eco-responsible, partially built with local materials, and perfectly integrated into its environment.” The entire project, completed in eight months, was designed and executed by Ivorian experts under international supervision.

The initiative addresses the fact that most sensitive data from Ivorian businesses and public administrations has historically been stored abroad. By localizing this critical infrastructure, ST Digital aims to strengthen the country’s digital sovereignty while remaining open to international exchanges.

The data center will serve public administrations, private companies, startups, and national projects, hosting data and applications in compliance with national standards. It is also expected to foster local skills development, create both direct and indirect jobs, and support the emergence of expertise in the digital sector.

According to U.S.-based IT services provider Brightlio, citing Visual Capitalist, there are about 11,800 data centers worldwide. In Africa, digital transformation firm Heirs Technologies reports that South Africa hosts nearly a quarter of the continent’s infrastructure with 49 centers, followed by Kenya (18), Nigeria (16), and Egypt (14). Ivory Coast currently has five, with the VITIB data center marking a significant milestone in the development of local digital infrastructure.

With 232 administrative services now available online, the ST Digital facility is set to play a key role in securing and optimizing these platforms. It will centralize data processing, strengthen the resilience of digital infrastructure, and support the creation of new solutions for businesses and citizens.

Samira Njoya