Global digital infrastructure leader, Vertiv, has entered into a multi-year partnership with Nxtra by Airtel Africa to drive the telecom operator’s ambitious plan to build one of the largest data centre networks across Africa. The collaboration begins in Nigeria, where the first facility, a 42-megawatt (MW) data centre will be developed in four phases and fully operational by 2028.
Under the agreement, Vertiv will provide advanced thermal management systems, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units, batteries, and long-term maintenance services. The Nigerian project will serve as the foundation for Nxtra’s pan-African expansion, aimed at delivering high-capacity and energy-efficient infrastructure across multiple countries.
Speaking on the partnership, Nxtra’s Chief Executive Officer, Yash Issur, described the investment as pivotal to advancing Africa’s digital transformation. He said the collaboration with Vertiv reflects Nxtra’s commitment to leveraging world-class technology with strong local expertise.
“It was important to partner with a vendor that combines global experience with a local presence,” Issur noted. “Vertiv’s successful track record across Africa and its work with Airtel in India give us full confidence in their ability to deliver scalable, reliable solutions for our markets.”
Similarly, Vertiv’s President for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), Karsten Winther, reaffirmed the company’s longstanding relationship with Airtel, which spans nearly three decades. He said the new agreement demonstrates the synergy between local African support and global innovation, positioning Vertiv as a key partner in Nxtra’s upcoming multi-country rollout, which will extend to Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Vertiv’s Managing Director for Africa, Wojtek Piorko, hailed the deal as a “milestone in strengthening Africa’s digital backbone,” emphasizing that the continent’s rapidly expanding and data-driven population continues to fuel demand for robust infrastructure.
Nxtra’s expansion aligns with Africa’s accelerating digital revolution, spurred by cloud computing, fintech growth, and the rise of artificial intelligence workloads. In Nigeria alone, data consumption reached a record 1.1 million terabytes by July 2025, pushing total national data centre capacity to about 136.7 MW.
Despite hurdles such as rising energy costs and fluctuating internet subscriptions, the sector continues to grow at an impressive pace. Nxtra’s upcoming facilities, including a mega data centre in Nairobi expected to surpass the Nigerian project in scale, are designed to meet international standards for sustainability, security, and operational performance, setting the stage for a new era in Africa’s digital infrastructure landscape