By 
Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, has entered a multi-year partnership with Nxtra by Airtel Africa to support the telecom group’s ambitious plan to build one of the largest data centre networks across the continent.
The collaboration will kick off in Nigeria, marking the first phase of Nxtra’s long-term strategy to deliver high-capacity, energy-efficient data centres that will power Africa’s growing digital economy.
Under the agreement, Vertiv will supply advanced thermal management systems, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units with battery solutions, and provide comprehensive commissioning and maintenance services. The initial project—a 42-megawatt (MW) facility in Nigeria—will be executed in four phases and is expected to reach full operation by 2028. Vertiv’s local service team in Nigeria will manage installation and provide five years of continuous technical support to ensure uptime and operational resilience.
Nxtra’s Chief Executive Officer, Yash Issur, emphasised that large-scale, high-quality data centres are essential to accelerating Africa’s digital transformation.
“It was important to partner with a vendor that combines global expertise with a strong local presence,” Issur stated. “Vertiv’s proven experience across Africa and its longstanding relationship with Airtel in India give us confidence in its ability to deliver reliable, scalable infrastructure across our markets.”
Karsten Winther, President of Vertiv for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), highlighted the long-standing partnership between the two companies:
“Airtel and Vertiv have worked together for nearly three decades. This next chapter underscores the strength of combining local African expertise with global innovation.”
The deal positions Vertiv as a cornerstone partner in Nxtra’s multi-country rollout, which will extend to key Airtel Africa markets such as Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Vertiv’s Managing Director for Africa, Wojtek Piorko, described the collaboration as “an important milestone in strengthening Africa’s digital backbone,” citing the continent’s surging data demand as a key growth driver.
Africa’s data landscape is evolving rapidly, propelled by the rise of cloud computing, fintech, and AI workloads. In Nigeria alone, data usage hit a record 1.1 million terabytes (TB) in July 2025, with total national data centre capacity now estimated at 136.7 MW. Despite challenges such as energy costs and fluctuating internet subscriptions, the continent’s demand for sustainable digital infrastructure continues to grow.
Nxtra’s upcoming facilities—including a major new data centre in Nairobi projected to exceed the Nigerian site in scale—will be built to global standards for sustainability, security, and performance, cementing Airtel Africa and Vertiv’s roles as key enablers of the continent’s digital future.
Comments