Nigeria now has more than 100 million internet users, making it the second largest market for data centers in Africa after South Africa. It is therefore not surprising that African-based companies like Kasi Cloud invest a lot of money in new data centers. In recent years, Western companies like Digital Realty and Equinix have also invested heavily in the region.

In Lagos, Kasi Cloud Ltd. recently broke ground for a new data center and interconnection facility that will give access to a world-class digital ecosystem, accelerating scalability and connectivity across the region and worldwide. The company designs, builds and operates hyperscale cloud data centers to support dynamic space, power, and connectivity at scale. For this purpose, Kasi acquired approximately 4 hectares of land in the Maiyegun Area of Lekki, Lagos, which is the fastest growing deployment zone for commercial and upscale residential facilities in Nigeria.

Lekki's $250 million campus is designed to meet the demands of a hyperscale environment, similar to the Silicon Valley technology park model. Once fully developed, the campus will be one of the largest in Africa.

Big Tech investments

Among the most notable transactions in the Nigerian market last year was Equinix's acquisition of Main One Data Center for 320 million dollars. It will add approximately 6,000 gross square meters of space to Equinix, as well as over 50,000 square meters of land for future expansion. Digital Realty acquired Medallion data centers for US$29 million around the same time and debuted a 10MW facility in Lagos.

There are other noteworthy investments including Google's plan to set up a substation in Lagos for its Equiano subsea cable as well as Facebook's decision to set up a cable landing station in Nigeria to offset the long-standing challenge of the lack of infrastructure.

Sub-Saharan Africa is the world's largest growth market. Kasi CEO Mark Adams said in a statement: "When you look at where Big Tech is investing, a major piece of that growth is coming through Nigeria and Kasi infrastructure is a key piece in the puzzle.”

Photo credit: Obinna Okerekeocha