Africa Data Centres, a subsidiary of Cassava Technologies, has announced a significant expansion of its CPT1 data center in Cape Town, adding 1,000 racks of white space and 6MW of IT load.
With this move, CPT1 has doubled its existing capacity, facilitated with support of up to $300 million from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).
Hardy Pemhiwa, President & Group CEO of Cassava Technologies, highlighted the importance of this expansion: “This expansion by Africa Data Centres is in response to the increasing demand for co-location capacity in South Africa. Not only is Cape Town the second largest economy in South Africa, but it is also the de facto software and technology hub in Southern Africa.”
According to the statement, this expansion reflects the broader surge in the South African data center market, driven by both local and international cloud and IT service providers.
Pemhiwa also acknowledged the support from the Ministry of ICT, Western Cape Provincial Government, and the Department of Economic Development. “I would like to acknowledge their ongoing support, as we expand our data centre facilities in South Africa” he said.
The new CPT1 facility will incorporate advanced security standards and focus on key customer requirements, including scalability, flexibility, and energy efficiency. It boasts hybrid cooling technology that handles both air and liquid cooling, ensuring high efficiency without compromising performance. The facility operates on renewable energy and features a Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) rating of zero due to no water consumption for IT infrastructure. Its Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) rating further underscores its efficiency.
CPT1 will also pioneer the use of wheeled solar power in Africa, a breakthrough enabled by a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Distributed Power Africa. This innovative approach is Africa Data Centres’ first project of its kind on the continent.
The former CFO and interim CEO of Africa Data Centres, Finhai Munzara, emphasized the benefits of this sustainable approach: “The introduction of wheeled solar power at the CPT1 facility offers significant benefits to our’ customers, providing a truly sustainable data centre solution. As the demand for data continues to skyrocket across Africa, a continent where power supply is often intermittent, the need for reliable, cost-effective, and green power has never been more critical.”
By harnessing renewable energy, he says the CPT1 facility not only ensures consistent power supply but also supports sustainable operations, helping customers achieve their environmental goals.
Munzara also talks up the specific benefits of Cape Town as an excellent location for colocation facilities as it is a stone’s throw away from all submarine cable landing stations, and houses the Cape Town Internet Exchange (CINX), facilitating multi-region peering, improving efficient data exchanges and reducing latency.
Africa’s rapid digitalization is driving significant data generation, increasing the demand for public cloud facilities and high-availability zones. As Africa’s most industrialized nation, South Africa plays a crucial role in this data production, with about 50% of the continent’s 400+ MW capacity and the presence of all major cloud operators.
Xalam Analytics, a digital infrastructure research firm, notes a recent decline in Africa’s global data center capacity contribution but remains optimistic about a rebound. Its 2024 State of the African Data Center report projects that new facility growth over the next three years will exceed previous buildout surges, with substantial expansion anticipated outside South Africa.
Several factors solidify South Africa’s position as the continent’s leading data center hub: robust physical security, geological and climate stability, a skilled workforce, advanced infrastructure, and a mature regulatory environment.
