Equinix is set to make a substantial investment of $390 million over the next five years in bolstering its presence in Africa. The investment will focus on constructing new data centers and expanding current operations in South and West Africa, bringing its commitments in Africa up to US$870m.

Sandile Dube, Equinix’s Managing Director for South Africa, revealed plans to explore opportunities in East Africa, indicating a potential for further investment in the region. Dube emphasized Equinix’s commitment to strategic growth on the continent, highlighting ongoing studies to identify key market opportunities.

“We will continue to invest where it makes sense on the continent, and we are undergoing a number of studies to ascertain these opportunities,” Dube said. “The money planned for investment includes the construction of data centers at our current operations, but excludes plans for additional markets.”

Equinix’s foray into Africa began with its acquisition of MainOne Cable Company. in 2022 which added four operational data centers in Nigeria, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire to its Platform Equinix portfolio, as well as a 7,000km subsea cable stretching from Portugal to Lagos, Nigeria with landing stations in Nigeria, Ghana and Cote dÍvoire. The company also appointed Dube as the first Managing Director for Equinix’s South African business, and announced an initial US$160M data center investment in Johannesburg.

Equinix recognizes the immense potential of Africa’s booming tech sector, particularly in the areas of enterprise, edge computing, and artificial intelligence (AI) and this investment will provide much-needed infrastructure to support the continent’s digital transformation journey, fostering innovation and economic growth.

This new expansion marks a significant milestone for Equinix’s long-term vision for Africa. By investing in key markets and building partnerships with local players, the company is well-positioned to unlock the immense potential of the African digital economy.