MTN Group is partnering with a UAE backed data centre investment platform to develop AI ready data centre infrastructure across Africa, with Nigeria and South Africa identified as the first markets for deployment, as reported by Bloomberg. The initiative will operate through a newly established company, Africa Data Hub Holding Limited, combining MTN’s continental infrastructure and market presence with international capital and specialist data centre expertise.
MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita said the first phase is targeting approximately 150 megawatts of capacity across Nigeria and South Africa. MTN will remain a minority investor, allowing the UAE backed partner to provide much of the capital and technical capability required to develop the facilities. The company plans to secure suitable land and power arrangements to support additional phases as demand grows.
The partnership comes as demand for cloud computing, enterprise technology and artificial intelligence accelerates across African markets. AI data centres require substantially more computing power, electricity and cooling capacity than conventional facilities, making access to capital and reliable infrastructure increasingly important for the continent’s digital expansion.
For MTN, the project represents a strategic expansion beyond telecommunications into the physical infrastructure underpinning Africa’s AI economy. Nigeria’s inclusion in the first phase is particularly significant, potentially strengthening the country’s position as a regional hub for cloud services, AI computing and digital infrastructure while creating opportunities for businesses that need locally hosted, high performance computing capacity.
