iXAfrica Data Centers, East Africa’s largest hyperscale data center facility, has launched the first phase of its Nairobi data center, NBOX1.

The 4.5MW facility, which houses 780 racks, is designed to be hyperscale, carrier-neutral, and AI-ready. It expands access to cloud services, secure data storage, and reliable connectivity for businesses, technology providers, and government operations across the region.

Located along Mombasa Road in Kenya’s capital, the data center is part of a larger 22.5MW campus.

iXAfrica CEO Snehar Shah emphasized the facility’s role in meeting the region’s growing demand for cloud and AI infrastructure. He stated:

“We are proud to unveil the first phase of our hyperscale data centre, which is ready to host the first hyperscale developments in the Region as well as key public sector workloads in the EAC region to contribute significantly to the digitalization of services and the cloud adoption in our country.”

During a visit to the facility, Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest) CEO John Mwendwa highlighted its significance in strengthening Kenya’s data sovereignty, accelerating digital transformation, and driving cloud adoption.

“Kenya is on the brink of a digital revolution, and investments like iX Africa’s hyperscale data centre are pivotal in positioning the country as a premier technology and innovation hub,” Mwendwa said.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting investments that fuel digital transformation and economic growth, adding that KenInvest is dedicated to fostering a business-friendly environment for investors.

The project has received strong financial backing, with Helios Investment Partners committing an initial $50 million in growth capital in December 2022.

Looking ahead, iXAfrica plans to expand further with NBOX1.2, an 18MW IT power facility, and the NBOX2 campus in Tilisi, which will provide 53MW across 11 acres, addressing the rising demand for digital infrastructure in the region.