AI data center expansion in Africa by MTN, with cooperation from international partners, targeted for the continent
In an exciting development for the African tech scene, the MTN Group, Microsoft, and G42 have announced plans to build a geothermal-powered data center in Kenya. This project is aimed at bridging the infrastructure gap on the continent, which currently has less than 1% of global AI data center capacity.
The CEO of MTN Group, Ralph Mupita, revealed this news to Bloomberg. The wireless carrier, which is Africa's largest, is in talks with U.S. and European firms to build data centers across the continent. Potential collaborators for MTN include AI infrastructure firms, co-investors, and hyperscalers like Microsoft.
MTN is not only building out facilities but also aiming to sign tenants to supply AI compute. The company is exploring options to secure efficient and stable power for AI facilities, a challenge in regions with limited infrastructure. To lead its AI data center strategy, MTN has created a dedicated unit, Genova.
The collaboration between MTN and other global tech players is part of broader investments in African data centers. While MTN is leading connectivity expansions, including 5G networks across Africa, US-American and European companies are jointly building AI data centers to leverage Africa's rapidly growing data infrastructure and expanding cloud adoption.
Indian telecom billionaire Sunil Mittal is also expanding AI capacity in Nigeria. The partnership is progressing with ongoing investments and new facility developments, such as liquid-cooled hyperscale data centers designed for high IT workloads.
However, reliable electricity remains a barrier for AI facilities in regions with limited infrastructure. To address this, MTN is investing directly in its first AI-focused data center in Nigeria, a project worth $240 million.
This development comes at a crucial time, as Africa, being the world's fastest-growing region with the youngest population, risks being left behind in the global AI race. By building out AI data centers, MTN plans to rent capacity to businesses and governments across its 16 African markets, potentially equipping its centers with its own hardware, and opening new revenue streams.
Telecom firms worldwide are pivoting into AI-driven data centers to capture demand from hyperscalers, reflecting active deployment and expansion in the region. As these partnerships and investments continue, Africa could soon become a significant player in the global AI landscape.
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