Airtel Africa is set to host a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of construction for its first NXtra Data Center, with plans for a launch event later this month.

In December 2023, Airtel unveiled Nxtra by Airtel, a subsidiary dedicated to establishing a network of high-capacity data centers across Africa. Yashnath Issur, a former Amazon Web Services executive, was appointed as Nxtra’s CEO to lead this initiative.

This move underscores Airtel’s recognition of the growing importance of well-managed data centers and co-location infrastructure on the continent. The groundbreaking ceremony symbolizes Airtel Africa’s commitment to enhancing data sovereignty, security, and preservation within Africa.

Segun Ogunsanya, CEO of Airtel Africa, expressed excitement about the potential of NXtra to drive business growth and prosperity across Africa. Leveraging its extensive fiber footprint and local data center capacity, Nxtra aims to reduce the cost of hosting data locally, fostering innovation and supporting African tech talent.

The NXtra Data Center reflects Airtel’s dedication to advancing technology to empower communities and stimulate economic development throughout Africa.