Vodacom Mozambique, a subsidiary of Vodafone, is investing $25 million in a data center in Matola, Mozambique, as reported by Opais.

The project will be executed in three phases, with the first phase expected to be completed by July 2024. Located in the capital, Maputo, the data center will prioritize advanced technology infrastructure, security enhancements, and energy-efficient initiatives. It will operate as a carrier-neutral facility, providing direct access to the 2Africa subsea cable housed in Vodacom Mozambique’s equipment room in Matola.

The company’s Chairman, Lucas Chachine, highlighted Matola’s suitability for disaster recovery operations and efficient market access. The facility aims to bolster the national economy’s digital development with advanced cooling systems and redundant power supplies.

To address the digital divide constraints in Mozambique, where challenges in infrastructure, market maturity and affordability cripple connectivity throughout the country, the government has is establishing digital villages, an infrastructure scheme which will improve connectivity and Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) access in rural areas.

With the impending arrival of the 2Africa subsea cable in 2024, alongside existing infrastructural strides, Mozambique anticipates a surge in internet adoption rates, necessitating the establishment of additional local data centers. Presently, Mozambique hosts seven data centers, including Seacom Maputa, Raxio Maputo, NTT DC Maputo, Teledata, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Vodacom Matola and iColo Maputo, each contributing to the country’s evolving digital landscape.

This post was updated to reflect Digital Realty’s iColo data center in Maputo.