• Côte d’Ivoire signs MoU with Raxio to support national data sovereignty strategy
• CIV1 data center to launch in September 2024, at a cost of CFA36 billion ($63.5 million)
• Facility to host sensitive government and private sector data locally

Data centers are critical to digital transformation, offering secure storage and strengthening data protection. In Abidjan, the construction of a national data center is underway.

The government of Côte d’Ivoire signed a memorandum of understanding with Raxio Data Centre Côte d’Ivoire, announced on June 16. This planned partnership is viewed by officials as a major step toward implementing the country’s data sovereignty strategy, which supports the digitalization of public services.

Scheduled to open in September 2024, the CIV1 Data Centre will provide a Tier 3-certified colocation hosting facility, offering 24/7 access, monitoring, and supervision. The facility features scalable, redundant power systems and neutral operator connectivity for both national and international networks.

Côte d’Ivoire’s digital sovereignty goals include safeguarding sensitive data and reducing reliance on foreign data hosting. “Digital sovereignty is a state’s capacity to control its digital space, to guarantee the security and integrity of its digital infrastructures, and to protect its citizens’ data. It is a crucial strategic challenge as it determines our independence, economic development, and national security,” said Namahoua Bamba Touré, head of the telecom regulator, in the November 2024 edition of the Regulator’s Monthly Information Bulletin.

Construction of the national data center began in Abidjan in December 2023. The facility, valued at CFA36 billion ($63.5 million), will span 20,000 m², house 800 racks, offer 1 MW of power capacity, and provide 2,200 terabits of storage. It will serve both government institutions and private companies.

At the foundation stone-laying ceremony, Minister of Digital Transition and Digitalisation Ibrahim Kalil Konaté emphasized the project's importance: “It is designed to stimulate the digitization of administrative procedures, thereby contributing to the modernization of our public administration. Furthermore, by fostering the development of entrepreneurship and the digital economy, the facility will pave the way for new growth, employment, and innovation opportunities for the country,” he stated.

These efforts align with a World Bank forecast that Côte d’Ivoire’s digital economy could generate over $20 billion by 2050 if public and private stakeholders increase investment across five key areas: infrastructure, platforms, financial services, entrepreneurship, and skills.

However, it is important to note that only a memorandum of understanding has been signed so far. No timeline has been disclosed for a final agreement or the implementation details of the planned partnership with Raxio.