Vertiv Powers Africa’s Data Boom with Mega Nxtra By Airtel Deal

Leading global digital infrastructure provider Vertiv has sealed a multi-year partnership with Nxtra to support Airtel Africa’s bold vision of establishing one of the continent’s most extensive data centre networks. 

According to Tech Economy, this strategic alliance kicks off in Nigeria, marking the initial stage of Nxtra’s expansive rollout to deliver high-capacity, energy-efficient digital infrastructure across Africa.

As part of the deal, Vertiv will deliver cutting-edge thermal management systems, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units complete with batteries, and full-spectrum commissioning and maintenance services. Vertiv will roll out the inaugural project, a massive 42-megawatt (MW) facility in Nigeria, in four phases, with full operations scheduled for 2028.

Vertiv’s dedicated Nigerian service team will handle the installation process and commit to five years of continuous support, guaranteeing seamless performance and virtually zero downtime for the site.

Yash Issur, CEO of Nxtra, emphasised that the company’s substantial investments in large, top-tier data centres are essential for accelerating Africa’s digital evolution. “Selecting a partner that merges worldwide know-how with robust on-the-ground expertise was paramount,” Issur explained. “Vertiv’s established success across Africa, coupled with its proven track record on Airtel initiatives in India, instils strong confidence in its capacity to provide dependable, scalable infrastructure tailored to our diverse markets.”

Karsten Winther, Vertiv’s president for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), highlighted the nearly three-decade-long collaboration between Airtel and Vertiv. “This latest phase underscores the synergy of blending local African capabilities with global innovation,” he remarked.

The agreement cements Vertiv’s role as a pivotal ally in Nxtra’s cross-border expansion strategy, which will span key markets including Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania—regions where Airtel Africa maintains a strong footprint. Wojtek Piorko, Vertiv’s managing director for Africa, called the partnership “a landmark achievement in fortifying Africa’s digital foundation,” pointing to the continent’s exploding, data-intensive population as a primary catalyst for surging demand.

Nxtra’s growth aligns with Africa’s booming data consumption, fuelled by widespread cloud adoption, the rise of fintech, and emerging AI applications. In Nigeria alone, data usage shattered records in 2025, with monthly internet traffic soaring to 1.1 million terabytes (1,100,000 TB) by July. 

This explosion—propelled by cloud computing, video streaming, and business digitisation, has triggered significant capital inflows into the data centre industry, elevating the country’s total capacity to approximately 136.7 megawatts. Even amid hurdles such as rising energy prices and variable internet subscription rates, the sector is expanding at a breakneck pace as demand for advanced digital infrastructure intensifies.

Nigeria is witnessing a veritable flood—or “spate”—of data centre investments and expansions in 2025, positioning it as one of Africa’s hottest markets for digital infrastructure. With a current national capacity of around 136.7 megawatts (MW), the sector is projected to attract over $1.7 billion in new investments by 2027, driven by both local and international players.

Key developments include Open Access Data Centres’ announcement in March 2025 of a new 24 MW facility in Lagos, Digital Realty’s launch of a 2 MW centre in August, and ongoing projects by operators like Equinix (with its LG3 site scheduled for 2025), MTN, Rack Centre, and Kasi Cloud. Nxtra by Airtel’s 38 MW campus in Lagos State aims for hyperscale status by 2026, while OADC Lagos has 1.5 MW operational and 24 MW planned.

This surge is fuelled by record data consumption—reaching 1.1 million terabytes per month by July 2025—and the broader African trend of rapid digitalisation, with the continent’s data centre revenues expected to climb from $8.96 billion in 2025 to $12.63 billion by 2029. The expansion of data centres and digital infrastructure, as exemplified by the Vertiv-Nxtra partnership, could profoundly boost Africa’s and Nigeria’s tourism sectors by enabling seamless connectivity, innovative technologies, and enhanced visitor experiences. In Africa, robust digital infrastructure supports economic growth and inclusion, which, in turn, fuels tourism through improved online booking platforms, virtual reality tours of attractions, and AI-driven personal travel recommendations.

Data centres provide cloud services that underpin secure payments in fintech, e-commerce for souvenir sales, and real-time apps for navigation and reviews, making destinations more accessible and appealing to global travellers.

For Nigeria specifically, where tourism contributes to GDP through cultural sites, wildlife, and business travel, better data infrastructure could streamline e-visa processes, enhance hotel and flight booking systems, and support digital marketing campaigns to attract international visitors.

This could lead to job creation in tech-enabled tourism services, increased revenue from data-driven insights into traveller trends, and sustainable practices enabled by IoT monitoring in ecotourism areas. However, power shortages in data centres might hinder reliable connectivity in remote tourist spots, potentially limiting these benefits unless addressed through renewable energy integrations.

Ultimately, as Africa’s digital economy grows—with data centres at its core—tourism could see a ripple effect, transforming the sector into a more efficient, innovative, and globally competitive industry.

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FAQs

1. What is the Vertiv-Nxtra partnership about?

The partnership involves Vertiv providing advanced thermal management, UPS systems, and maintenance services to support Airtel’s expansion of high-capacity data centres across Africa, starting with a 42MW facility in Nigeria.

2. When will the Nigerian data centre be fully operational?

The 42MW facility in Nigeria is set to be delivered in four phases and expected to become fully operational by 2028, with Vertiv offering five years of ongoing support.

3. How does this deal contribute to Africa’s digital transformation?

By building energy-efficient, scalable infrastructure, the partnership addresses surging data demands from cloud adoption, fintech, and AI, strengthening Africa’s digital backbone and enabling broader economic growth.

4. Which other African countries are included in Nxtra’s expansion? 

Beyond Nigeria, the rollout will extend to markets like Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, with plans for even larger facilities, such as one in Nairobi.

5. What challenges does the African data centre market face?

Key hurdles include rising energy costs, power constraints, and fluctuating internet subscription levels, though rapid demand growth continues to drive investments and innovation in the sector.