Vertiv, a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, is expanding its collaboration with Airtel Africa through Nxtra, its Data Center division.
Starting from Nigeria, this collaboration represents the first step in Nxtra's strategic objective of creating one of the largest high-capacity data center networks on the African continent, strategically positioned in major cities and supported by the consolidated operational experience gained in India.
“Nxtra has been an important customer for almost thirty years,” said Karsten Winther, Vertiv president for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). “This new chapter in our collaboration confirms the potential of the synergy between local support in Africa with international manufacturing and innovation capacity.”
“As we are investing in high-capacity, high-quality data centers for Africa, it was critical to partner with a provider that combines global expertise and a strong local presence,” said Yash Issur, CEO of Nxtra by Airtel Africa. "Vertiv's extensive multinational experience, together with its Service team already active in Africa, guarantees us the reliability and support we need. We are happy to indicate Vertiv as the main vendor for the first project in Nigeria and to extend the collaboration from India to Africa."
Growth planned across Africa
The Nigerian facility, with a capacity of 42 megawatts (MW), will be completed through a four-phase construction process, with full operations expected by 2028. Vertiv will provide thermal management solutions and battery-powered uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), marking the beginning of a three-year development plan in Africa aimed at offering energy-efficient, scalable and reliable infrastructure. Vertiv will also provide five-year testing, delivery and maintenance services, supported by its Service team already operational in Nigeria. This will ensure Nxtra data centers have strong local support for long-term operations.
Wojtek Piorko, managing director for Africa at Vertiv, said: "Africa's growing and data-hungry population is a key driver of digital growth on the continent, and more data centers are needed to meet this demand. Our collaboration with Nxtra marks a significant milestone in strengthening critical digital infrastructure in Africa. Together we are bringing consolidated global expertise and advanced technologies to Nigeria (and beyond).
In addition to the site in Nigeria, Vertiv is also working with Nxtra on future projects in the markets where Airtel Africa operates, with a facility in Nairobi expected to surpass the Nigerian facility in size.
