Telecom
Nigeria, Ethiopia Ripe for Datacentre Development
COVID-19 has fast-tracked digital transformation and will drive utilisation and the case for increased investment in datacentres across Africa, with countries like Ethiopia and Nigeria identified as potentially lucrative growth markets, according to market research by industry analysts.
Guy Zibi, who heads up research at Xalam Analytics, said South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria are already key hubs for datacentres and countries with solid internet infrastructure and strong economic sectors will attract more investment into datacentre development.
“Datacentres need economic activity and data traffic to thrive. The best opportunities, therefore, lie in markets that are both hubs of economic activity and hubs of data traffic. South Africa and North African markets, primarily, but also Nigeria, Kenya, Angola and Ghana,” said Zibi.
He added that there is “a secondary set of opportunities in markets that have promising internet foundations but virtually no hosting infrastructure” and these include the DRC, Ethiopia, and Francophone West Africa.
This week the Oxford Business Group and the Africa Data Centres Association released the Data Centres in Africa Focus Report, which highlights Africa’s economic recovery from the pandemic as the “primary factor that will drive data consumption in Africa”.
According to the World Bank, Sub-Saharan Africa is set to emerge from the 2020 recession triggered by the pandemic, with growth of 3.3% in 2021.
Digital financial inclusion is expected to “play a leading role in that recovery” for most African countries. The improved digital financial inclusion “will drive demand for datacentre capacity as institutions seek to store and protect rising levels of sensitive customer” data.
The continent’s traditional financial institutions “are migrating their operations to datacentres and will continue to do so as they look to expand their digital offerings” in the face of threats of further infection waves of COVID-19.
Ayotunde Coker, the chairman of Africa Data Centres Association highlights Ethiopia as a “particularly interesting market” based on increased opportunities following the deregulation of the telecommunications industry through privatisation, as well as growing broadband availability.
Ethiopia’s recently launched mobile money platform, Telebirr has also soared to above 3 million users within the first few months of launch.
Nigeria is another market that offers standout opportunities for datacentre growth.
“The country has a large population, of which approximately one hundred and fifty million people use the internet, a broadband penetration of nearly 45 and an advantageous geostrategic location. Indeed, geography is an important element to consider when constructing datacentres,” said Coker.
However, North Africa’s datacentre development is likely to be constrained due to its proximity to European datacentre clusters, particularly Marseille in France.
With the introduction of Travel Saga, a premium, fast-paced gaming experience that is currently live and accessible to customers on its network, Globacom has lifted the bar for mobile entertainment in the country.
Travel Saga is a story-driven, intricately connected role-playing game designed to provide the thrill, complexity, and competitive intensity of some of the most well-known action games in the world.
The game, which has been painstakingly optimized for mobile devices, redefines mobile gaming as a full-fledged digital battlefield by translating a console-grade experience onto data-enabled handsets.
Fundamentally, Travel Saga takes users on quick virtual journeys against recognizable international landscapes. In a dynamic, ever-evolving gaming environment, players are thrown into furious missions, fierce fights, and ever-expanding tales where talent, strategy, and endurance determine who rises through the ranks to become a true war hero.
In addition to the excitement of fighting, users are encouraged to go to various locations, take part in thrilling challenges, and participate in intense competition for in-app rewards like points and victory badges. With each encounter and accomplishment, the immersion increases with each level, maintaining momentum and excitement.
Flexible subscription plans with one-time or auto-renewal choices are available to subscribers for the service, which costs ₦100 per day and ₦250 per week. By dialing *70021#, customers can quickly subscribe and gain instant access to the action.
With Travel Saga, Glo reaffirms its dedication to innovation and high-end digital experiences, making top-notch gaming easily accessible to its customers. The game offers uninterrupted action, adventure, and competition, all smoothly supported by the Glo network.
SHELT, a leading cybersecurity-as-a-service provider, has earned inclusion in the 2025 MSSP 250, the annual ranking of the world’s top 250 Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) by MSSP Alert, a CyberRisk Alliance publication.
SHELT
The list evaluates firms on business performance, service breadth, and industry impact, spotlighting those excelling in growth, operational excellence, and advanced managed security amid rising cyber threats. Selection criteria include annual recurring revenue, profitability, workforce expansion, business growth, and the depth of managed security offerings.
SHELT’s recognition underscores its investments in scalable security operations, threat intelligence, and tailored managed services across multiple regions, enabling clients to navigate complex risk landscapes effectively.
“Being recognised in the MSSP 250 is a meaningful milestone for our team,” stated Youssef Abillama, CEO of SHELT. “It validates our focus on building practical, resilient security services that help organisations manage risk and respond effectively to today’s evolving cyber threats.”
The company hailed the honour as testament to its teams’ dedication and expertise worldwide, reaffirming commitment to enhancing capabilities and delivering trusted cybersecurity solutions.
Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook, has appointed Dina Powell McCormick, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, as its new president and vice chairman, bolstering its leadership amid aggressive AI and infrastructure expansion.
Dina Powell McCormick
The announcement, made on Monday, positions Powell McCormick – who recently stepped down from Meta’s board after eight months – to guide overall strategy, including multi-billion-dollar investments in data centres and global partnerships.
A Goldman Sachs veteran with 16 years in senior roles and prior stints as deputy national security adviser under Trump and in the Bush administration, she brings deep finance and international ties to the role.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hailed her as “uniquely qualified” for the company’s next growth phase, while President Trump praised the move on Truth Social as a “fantastic choice”.
The hire signals Meta’s efforts to strengthen White House relations, following recent dinners with Trump and U.S. investment pledges worth hundreds of billions
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