MTN Digital Infrastructure has entered into a strategic partnership with a UAE-based data centre investment platform, founded by Tarek Al Ashram, an experienced data centre developer, operator and investor, to accelerate the development of AI-ready digital infrastructure platforms across Africa.
The new partnership will help address growing demand for cloud, enterprise, digital and AI-enabled services across Africa by combining MTN Digital Infrastructure's extensive African footprint, market knowledge and infrastructure assets with specialist investment, development and operating expertise in the data centre sector.
The partners will pursue the strategic partnership through Africa Data Hub, which will serve as the platform through which future digital infrastructure opportunities will be developed and scaled across key African markets, with an initial focus on South Africa and Nigeria.
MTN's digital connectivity business and a shareholder in the partnership Bayobab will provide open access connectivity and go-to-market support through its extensive pan-African network.
As AI reshapes industries, economies and societies at an unprecedented speed and demand for cloud computing, AI workloads and data-intensive digital services accelerates, access to resilient, scalable and locally-hosted digital infrastructure will become increasingly critical to Africa's competitiveness and economic growth.
