It already runs data centres in seven African countries; this should boost internet penetration in Angola
The Raxio Group, one of the largest pan-African data centre operators, has laid the foundation stone for a data centre in Angola’s capital, Luanda. (Picture shows the Administrator of the Urban District of Cacuaco, Adão Pacheco Valentim, left, and Robert Mullins, CEO of Raxio Group laying the first brick.)
Raxio Angola will be the first independent and neutral Tier III certified data centre in the country and part of Raxio’s growing network of data centres. It has the the largest geographical presence on the continent, with data centres in seven African countries already.
Angola’s digital and telecoms ecosystems have been developing rapidly: the country has an internet penetration rate of about 27%. New connectivity service providers are entering the market and other providers are improving their networks, presence, and services.
The new data centre in Angola will means the country could act as a strategic digital hub for peering and driving regional and international digital traffic.
The data centre is scheduled to come online in the second half of next year, with an initial capacity of 3MW, but could scale up to 7MW with more 1,600 racks. Achieving Tier III certified status signifies the data centre will have “the best power, cooling and security technology in the industry, supporting AC/DC power compatibility and offering complete redundancy to its customers,” according to a press statement.
Robert Mullins, CEO of the Raxio group, said: “Our decision to build Angola’s first carrier-neutral next-generation facility reveals our commitment to a well-defined strategy to provide the country with a vital digital infrastructure.…Angola has a very high demand for connectivity and related services.
“In addition, it is geographically very well positioned to be a strategic connectivity hub for the region, making it an important market for our growing portfolio. As with all our facilities, Raxio Angola is being developed in strict compliance with our ESG [environmental, social, and corporate governance] standards, generating a positive impact through the direct and indirect creation of hundreds of jobs with the utmost respect for the environment.”