Africa is advancing its digital transformation as MTN, the continent’s largest network provider, teams up with Dubai-based investor Tarek Al Ashram to expand AI data center infrastructure across Africa.
The partnership is expected to accelerate Africa’s growing artificial intelligence ecosystem by creating the computing capacity needed by businesses, governments, cloud service providers and other institutions.
At the center of the initiative is Africa Data Hub Holding Ltd., backed by Al Ashram’s investment firm. The company will focus on developing large-scale AI data centers, creating new opportunities to expand Africa’s digital infrastructure and support the continent’s rapidly developing technology economy.
Al Ashram, co-founder of the KKR-backed Gulf Data Hub, said his investment firm would finance the newly established company.
“We see significant potential to bring our experience in developing and operating large-scale data center platforms to African markets,” said Al Ashram. Africa Data Hub will “help shape that growth,” he noted.
Importantly, the partnership comes as Africa’s young and rapidly growing population continues to drive demand for digital services and innovative technologies. By expanding data center capacity, the initiative can help create a stronger foundation for African businesses and institutions to harness the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence.
Al Ashram described Africa as an increasingly attractive market for digital infrastructure, pointing to strong demand, expanding digital economies and the need for resilient and scalable infrastructure.
Africa now presents a “similarly compelling opportunity, driven by strong underlying demand, rapidly expanding digital economies and an increasing need for resilient and scalable infrastructure,” to what the Middle East has experienced over the years, said Al Ashram.
For Africa, the partnership represents an important opportunity to deepen local digital capabilities and support the next generation of technology-driven growth. It also positions the continent to attract further investment into infrastructure that can power AI applications, cloud computing and other emerging technologies.
Meanwhile, MTN is using its extensive presence across Africa to advance its AI strategy and diversify its business while contributing to the continent’s digital transformation.
“The approach that we are taking on the building of our AI business is to partner with third parties, and the entity that we are partnering with has built data centers in the UAE,” MTN Chief Executive Ralph Mupita said at an event on Tuesday.
He said MTN would take a phased approach, beginning with the development of 150 megawatts of AI data center capacity.
As part of the rollout, facilities are planned for Nigeria and South Africa, where they will serve MTN’s computing requirements while also providing infrastructure capacity to major cloud service providers, enterprise clients and public-sector institutions.
Furthermore, MTN is securing land and negotiating power agreements to support the phased development of AI-focused data centers across its 16 African markets.
The initiative could therefore provide a powerful boost to Africa’s digital ambitions, strengthening the infrastructure available to African innovators, businesses, governments and technology companies.
With AI increasingly shaping the global economy, MTN and Al Ashram’s investment represents a significant opportunity for Africa to build stronger digital foundations, expand its technology ecosystem and position itself for an exciting new era of AI-powered growth.
