MTN to enhance Nigeria’s digital infrastructure with new data centre

MTN Nigeria is set to further expand and enhance Nigeria’s digital infrastructure with the new 1,500-rack Tier 4 data centre currently under construction.

MTN’s data centre came as the latest of several such projects that have been announced in Nigeria lately as tech companies move to bridge the digital infrastructure gap.

Earlier in March this year, Airtel Africa performed the groundbreaking for its NXTra data center project in Lagos.

Providing further explanations on why MTN, which is the largest telecom operator in Nigeria is building a data centre, Chief Technical Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mohammed Rufai, said the facility would be Africa’s largest data centre and play a pivotal role in meeting the growing data demands and digital needs of businesses and consumers nationwide.

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“We see a high demand in the market, with data usage growing significantly. To cater to this demand and prepare for future growth, we are expanding and modernizing our data centre capacity now. This is to ensure we are ready for expansion at the right time,” he explained.

According to him, the new data centre will support MTN’s infrastructure and serve as a vital resource for businesses across Nigeria.

“Businesses that require data centre capacity can now forgo maintaining their server rooms. Our facility will provide the space and services needed, enabling companies to digitize their operations and improve efficiency,” Rufai noted.

He said the data centre would also enhance the delivery of content from major tech companies like Meta and Google, bringing content closer to Nigerian users and improving access speeds. This local hosting of content will significantly boost user experience and network efficiency, he added.

Highlighting the expected benefits of the project on Nigeria’s economy, the MTN CTO said the project is not just a technological investment but also a catalyst for economic growth.

“By providing scalable and adaptable infrastructure, it will enable businesses, particularly MSMEs, to leverage cloud services and other digital solutions. This, in turn, will drive innovation, efficiency, and competitiveness across various sectors of the economy,” he said.

Rufai emphasized MTN’s readiness to partner with startups and MSMEs, offering numerous opportunities for collaboration, particularly in cloud services.

He added that the facility would also eventually utilize efficient cooling systems and a combination of traditional energy sources, gas, and renewable energy, which would significantly reduce its carbon footprint.