Airtel Nigeria to Challenge MTN with Massive Lagos Data Centre
Airtel Nigeria, a leading telecommunications provider, has unveiled ambitious plans to construct a 38-megawatt hyperscale data centre in Lagos, signaling a significant escalation in the competition for Nigeria’s burgeoning digital infrastructure market. This announcement arrives just two months after rival MTN Nigeria inaugurated its Dabengwa Data and Cloud Centre, indicating a fierce battle for market dominance in the country’s digital landscape. This strategic move underscores the growing demand for robust data processing capabilities within Nigeria and the wider West African region.
Driving Digital Innovation in Nigeria
According to Airtel Nigeria’s Chief Technology Officer, Hermanpreet Dhillon, the forthcoming data centre is designed to meet the escalating demands of customers, especially in areas like artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud operations. In an interview with Economy Watch, Dhillon emphasized that the facility would accommodate both current and future technology needs. He added that the facility, once complete, will stand as the largest data centre in Nigeria and indeed, the entire West African region. Dhillon highlighted the data centre’s capacity to handle new digital tools and innovations, providing the infrastructure for enhanced information access and greater efficiency across various sectors. Situated in Lagos State’s Eko Atlantic City, the data centre’s location places it in proximity to prominent corporate entities like MTN Nigeria, Dangote Group, and First Bank of Nigeria. This strategic placement positions Airtel Nigeria to capitalize on the city’s increasing attractiveness as a hub for tech-driven businesses.
The data centre project signifies a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s digital transformation, promising to strengthen its technological framework and facilitate the growth of emerging technologies in Africa.
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