If you are considering investing in a data center in West Africa, there are a number of things to consider. One of these factors is the region’s need for broadband connectivity and other network solutions. Another is the country’s recent development of a centralized data center hub.
Data center hub in Nigeria
MainOne, a leading West African data center provider, has been acquired by US tech firm Equinix. The acquisition will bring a host of benefits, including enhanced connectivity to Europe and Africa.
MainOne currently has three operational data centers in Nigeria, with one additional facility under construction. Its facilities provide highly reliable services to large and small enterprises, as well as government agencies. As a result of this acquisition, customers will benefit from access to an ecosystem of global networks, telecom operators, financial services firms, and content providers.
Equinix has recently announced its plans to expand into the African continent. In December 2021, it will acquire MaineOne, a telecommunications and network services provider in west Africa. With this acquisition, the company will offer services to more than 10,000 businesses.
On the technology front, MainOne has developed the first privately owned, high-capacity submarine cable in Africa. It stretches more than 4,000 miles down the coast of West Africa from Lagos to Kribi, Cameroon. The cable provides low-latency access to key global networks.
Cable stretching from Portugal to West Africa
The West Africa Cable System will link Portugal and West Africa with a total of 14.500 kilometers of submarine fiber cable. It uses 100Gbit/s technology to deliver low-latency connections across the region.
The system will connect countries in both Europe and Africa, including Morocco, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Ghana, and Nigeria. It has 15 landing points. This includes two network operation centers.
This new undersea cable system will improve Internet connectivity between Portugal Telecom’s main hub in London and its main operations in Africa. The company is investing USD25 million in the project.
A consortium of international carriers is operating the system. Two fixed-line providers are also working with the cable. One operates over microwave radio relay, while the other operates over fiber optics.
The cable’s capacity will be 20 times greater than the last cable built to serve the region. It will also provide much faster internet in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Google is funding the project, which will run from Portugal to Africa’s western coastline. With three touchpoints along the way, this cable will offer up to 340-350 terabytes of data per second. According to Google, it will reduce retail data prices by 21%.
Acquired by Equinix for $320 million
Equinix, a global digital infrastructure provider, announced today it has acquired MainOne, a leading data center company in West Africa. The acquisition is a major strategic step in Equinix’s long-term strategy to become the top African carrier-neutral digital infrastructure firm.
MainOne has been a pioneer in the development of the African digital infrastructure sector. Since its inception in 2010, the company has built a robust subsea network with landing stations across the continent. It has also established a terrestrial fiber network that spans southern Nigeria.
The company has three operational data centers in Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Mauritius. Its facilities have been used by major international technology enterprises and cloud service providers, generating $60 million in annualized revenue.
The transaction will add a large number of high-value assets and will help Equinix expand its platform into Africa. Additionally, the deal should be AFFO accretive.
According to the agreement, Equinix will acquire 64,000 square feet of space and 570,000 square feet of land. This includes the 500-person main building in Lagos, as well as additional facilities that are under construction.
Network solutions for businesses in the region
If you’re a business owner in West Africa, you need a reliable telecommunications infrastructure. The future of work is on the horizon, and technology is changing the way that we do things. Your network solutions provider can help you solve challenges and make the most of new technologies.
MainOne, founded by Funke Opeke, has been providing network solutions to businesses in West Africa for more than five years. In that time, MainOne has made massive investments in the region’s infrastructure. This includes a state-of-the-art IP NGN network and an undersea cable system running down the coast of West Africa. These assets have enabled connectivity to Europe and other regions, and also opened up opportunities for indigenous enterprises.
MainOne is now in the process of being acquired by Equinix Inc. The deal is expected to close in Q1 2022. It will be Nigeria’s largest tech acquisition. Once the deal is finalized, the management team of the company will continue to run the business.
