(Ecofin Agency) - With that data center, the operator, which was acquired by Digital Realty in 2019, is kickstarting its African expansion. Till now, it had only three data centers at its Mombasa and Nairobi campuses in Kenya. 

Last Wednesday, data center operator iColo launched its first carrier-neutral data center in Maputo, Mozambique. The infrastructure, dubbed MPM1, is expected to expand the operator's footprint and meet the growing connectivity needs along Africa's East Coasts.

According to iColo, in its first phase, MPM1, whose construction was announced in October 2021, will offer approximately 350 square meters of rentable space (equivalent to about 80 racks) with the potential to accommodate additional upgrades. The data center is built on a 9,500-square-meter campus at Avenida Lenine, Luanda.

"We are committed to enhancing internet connectivity in Mozambique by establishing this new facility, especially with the advent of new high-capacity cable systems landing along the coast of Mozambique. We are very excited about the growth potential of this market," said Ranjith Cherickel, CEO of iColo.

The construction of that data center is part of the parent company Digital Realty's African expansion plan. The company committed to investing US$500 million over the next 10 years to accelerate the growth of Africa's digital economy. In November 2021, it acquired Nigerian data center operator Medallion and also invested in the expansion of iColo's campuses in Mombasa and Nairobi, Kenya.

The new data center was built against the backdrop of rising investment in the growing African data center market, driven in part by the increasing demand for high-speed connectivity and the digitization of African businesses. In September 2022, another operator, Raxio Group, launched the construction of Tier 3 neutral data center in the Beluluane Industrial Park (MozParks) in Maputo.

Isaac K. Kassouwi