As Kenya advances rapidly toward becoming a regional technology powerhouse, Safaricom PLC, in partnership with iXAfrica Data Centre, is laying the infrastructure to power the continent’s digital future.
The two companies have teamed up to launch East Africa’s first AI-ready data centre services, targeting enterprises, cloud solution providers, and public sector institutions across the region.
This strategic collaboration is not only timely; it is transformative. It aligns with the accelerating demand for high-density computing infrastructure to support cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, edge analytics, and disaster recovery solutions.
A New Era for Enterprise Infrastructure in East Africa
The partnership brings together iXAfrica’s hyperscale-ready infrastructure and Safaricom’s extensive enterprise network, creating a digital ecosystem capable of hosting AI-intensive workloads and power-hungry applications that were previously impractical to run locally.
With a design capacity of 22.5 MW, iXAfrica’s NBOX1 Nairobi Campus is the largest data centre project in Greater East Africa and is strategically positioned to serve more than 300 million people across the region.
This state-of-the-art infrastructure is built to support power-intensive workloads, delivering the robust processing and cooling capacity needed for next-gen technologies.
It is especially relevant for organisations adopting AI, whose workloads demand significantly higher computing density, cooling efficiency, and network resilience.
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Supporting Digital Growth with Scalable, Local Solutions
The Safaricom–iXAfrica partnership offers a complete, scalable data centre solution that meets the evolving needs of modern enterprises and government institutions. Businesses will now have access to:
- High power density infrastructure for AI and cloud computing.
- Scalable data storage and backup solutions.
- Integrated disaster recovery and business continuity capabilities.
- Local data hosting for regulatory compliance and latency advantages.
- End-to-end enterprise infrastructure from colocation to managed services and cybersecurity.
Enterprises can now run complex machine learning models, handle big data analytics, or deploy edge computing frameworks all hosted locally in Kenya.
This ensures data sovereignty, regulatory alignment, and minimal latency, which are especially critical in industries such as financial services, manufacturing, and retail.
Enabling Real-World AI Applications in Kenya
The impact of AI is already being felt across sectors. In financial services, AI enables advanced fraud detection, credit risk modelling, and hyper-personalised customer experiences.
In manufacturing and logistics, it powers real-time analytics, supply chain optimisation, and demand forecasting.
The ability to host such workloads within Kenya’s borders not only accelerates adoption but also ensures that data remains compliant with local and international data protection standards.
By anchoring this infrastructure in Nairobi, Safaricom and iXAfrica are reducing Africa’s reliance on international data centres and cloud regions.
This decentralized approach allows for greater control, faster access, and stronger resilience across business-critical applications.
Strategic Alignment for East Africa’s Digital Future
According to Safaricom CEO Dr Peter Ndegwa, the partnership is a strategic step toward building the infrastructure required to support East Africa’s digital economy.
“As East Africa’s digital economy continues its rapid expansion, businesses increasingly require robust, scalable, and secure infrastructure solutions that can support the next wave of innovation, including AI workloads,” he said. “Through this partnership with iXAfrica, we are enhancing our enterprise portfolio with premium data centre services that meet the highest global standards while supporting sustainable digital growth.”
Guy Willner, Chairman of iXAfrica, emphasised the connection between market leadership and technical innovation:
“By combining our purpose-built, world-class AI-ready infrastructure with Safaricom’s unparalleled market presence and customer relationships, we’re creating a digital ecosystem that will accelerate innovation and growth across the region.”
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Built for Scale, Powered by Clean Energy
Another key advantage of this partnership lies in its sustainable infrastructure. Kenya’s national electricity grid draws over 90% of its power from renewable energy sources, making the deployment of AI and cloud services in the region not only powerful but environmentally responsible.
The joint offering includes dedicated enterprise and cloud suites starting at 350 kW, scalable beyond 1 MW. This flexibility allows businesses to scale as they grow, accessing advanced computing capabilities without the capital burden of building or managing their own infrastructure.
A Unified Solution Under One Brand
Enterprises benefit from having one integrated contract and a single point of service through Safaricom covering connectivity, colocation, managed cloud services, business continuity, and cybersecurity.
This unified solution is critical for companies looking to streamline operations and focus on innovation rather than infrastructure management.
With a subscriber base of over 49 million, Safaricom continues to leverage its dominance in mobile services, fintech, and enterprise connectivity to extend its reach into next-generation services like AI hosting and cloud-native infrastructure.
Building Africa’s Digital Backbone
The launch of East Africa’s first AI-ready data centre services is a milestone in Kenya’s digital transformation journey.
By enabling local access to advanced computing power and robust infrastructure, Safaricom and iXAfrica are positioning Nairobi and the broader region as a competitive player in the global digital economy.
This partnership reflects a growing trend: Africa is not waiting to be included in the fourth industrial revolution it is building its own infrastructure to lead it.
For enterprises looking to stay ahead of the curve, this is more than a data centre; it’s a launchpad for the next decade of growth.
Ronnie Paul is a seasoned writer and analyst with a prolific portfolio of over 1,000 published articles, specialising in fintech, cryptocurrency, and digital finance at Africa Digest News.