Visa’s Landmark African Data Centre Bolsters Digital Payments in Johannesburg
Visa has officially inaugurated its first data centre on the African continent, strategically located in Johannesburg, South Africa. This significant development marks a pivotal moment for digital payments across the region, underscoring Visa’s deep commitment to fostering economic growth and enhancing the security and efficiency of transactions throughout Africa. The state-of-the-art facility is set to become a cornerstone of the continent’s rapidly evolving digital economy.
Strategic Investment and Digital Transformation
The establishment of Visa’s Johannesburg data centre is part of a substantial 1 billion rand (approximately USD 57 million) investment earmarked for South Africa over the next three years. This commitment is itself a component of Visa’s broader USD 1 billion Africa strategy, which was initially announced in 2022. Speaking at the launch, Michael Berner, Visa’s Head of Southern and East Africa, highlighted the profound importance of this facility. He stated, “Visa continues to be very committed to the growth of the economy on the continent and building the data centre, which is frankly one of very few that are built outside of our core locations, which are the US, the UK and Singapore, is evidence of this commitment.” Visa’s choice of South Africa for this critical infrastructure was driven by the nation’s prominent role in digital payments, particularly its impressive adoption rate where over 60 percent of in-store transactions are now contactless, signalling a robust digital readiness. This new data centre is poised to accelerate digital transformation, enhance transaction processing capabilities, and provide robust security infrastructure to support the increasing volume of digital payments across the continent.
This significant investment in localized infrastructure solidifies South Africa’s position as a leader in African FinTech and digital innovation. It will undoubtedly contribute to a more resilient and efficient digital payment ecosystem, facilitating greater financial inclusion and supporting economic development across the diverse African landscape.
Keywords
Related Keywords: Visa Africa data centre, Johannesburg data centre, Visa South Africa tech, Africa digital infrastructure, Financial services Africa, Visa expansion Africa, Data centre Africa, Johannesburg tech hub, Visa cloud computing Africa, Fintech Africa
