Vertiv, a global leader in digital infrastructure solutions, has entered a multi-year partnership with Nxtra by Airtel Africa to power and cool data centers across the continent. The collaboration kicks off in Nigeria with a 42-megawatt (MW) facility in Lagos, marking the beginning of a wider rollout aimed at transforming Africa’s digital landscape.
Major Investment in Nigeria’s Data Future
The Lagos data center, located on Victoria Island, will be constructed in four phases and is expected to become fully operational by 2028. This flagship project will address soaring data demand driven by cloud adoption, fintech expansion, and artificial intelligence workloads. According to recent reports, Nigeria’s monthly internet traffic reached 1.1 million terabytes (1,100,000 TB) in July 2025, underscoring the urgency of such infrastructure.
Vertiv’s involvement guarantees advanced thermal management systems, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units, and five years of on-site maintenance. These solutions aim to deliver high reliability and energy efficiency with a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) target of around 1.3, among the best in emerging markets.
Expanding Across Africa: Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania Next
Following the Nigeria launch, Nxtra plans to expand into Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania within three years, with Kenya’s Nairobi facility set to exceed 42MW capacity. Together, these data centers will form one of Africa’s largest interconnected networks, projected to surpass 200MW of total capacity.
The facilities will follow Tier III+ standards, emphasizing sustainability and operational resilience. Vertiv’s modular designs will enable Nxtra to scale operations seamlessly, accommodating Africa’s growing data needs while maintaining uptime and reducing environmental impact.
Partnership Strength Built on Experience
Vertiv and Airtel share a long history, nearly three decades of collaboration that began in India. This established partnership now extends into Africa, combining Vertiv’s international innovation with local expertise.
Nxtra CEO Yash Issur praised Vertiv’s global capabilities and local presence, calling the partnership “a key enabler for reliable and sustainable infrastructure.” Karsten Winther, Vertiv’s EMEA President, added that “this collaboration strengthens Africa’s digital backbone with a balance of local support and global standards.”
Transforming Africa’s Digital Economy
Analysts predict that the Vertiv–Nxtra alliance could attract over $1 billion in future investments and create thousands of local jobs in engineering, maintenance, and data management. The move aligns with Africa’s rapid digital transformation, driven by mobile connectivity, fintech growth, and AI adoption.
As Nxtra and Vertiv extend their reach, their partnership sets a benchmark for Africa’s data infrastructure development. Beyond powering servers, it symbolizes the continent’s readiness to compete in the global digital economy, beginning with Nigeria’s ambitious 42MW leap into the future.
