Telecom
Nnamani Upbeat on Digital Realty’s $500m Investment, Says it will Boost Nigeria’s Digital Economy
Following the acquisition of Medallion Data Centres, Nigeria’s leading colocation and interconnection provider by Digital Realty, the largest global provider of cloud- and carrier-neutral data center, Engr. Ikechukwu Nnamani, Chief Executive Officer of Medallion Data Centres Limited (formerly Medallion Communications Limited), has said that the investment is a major boost towards Nigeria’s quest for a fully digital economy in the near future.
“The entrance of Digital Realty into Nigeria is truly significant as it ensures that the plan by the Federal Government of Nigeria to create a fully digital economy will be actualized,” he said in a statement today in Lagos following the announcement by Digital Reality.
Engr. Nnamani, expressed delight at the successful conclusion of the transaction and pointed out that Nigeria as a country is the biggest beneficiary of this development. According to him, for Nigeria to transition to a fully digital economy, it will need next generation telecom infrastructure of which datacenters is a critical part.
“None of the global digital content and cloud service providers has their storage or compute nodes in Nigeria or any of the West African countries. To attract global players in the telecom and ICT space to Nigeria, we must have world class datacenters operating at hyperscale level.
“Although Medallion has a robust datacenter business and rated as one of the best datacenter operator in the region, we realized we needed a global player with international experience to work with if we are to fulfill the expectation of the emerging datacenter market in the sub-region,” the statement added.
This prompted Medallion to structure investment with Digital Realty, largest global provider of cloud- and carrier-neutral data centers, colocation and interconnection solutions. Digital Realty supports the world’s leading enterprises and service providers by delivering the full spectrum of data centre, colocation and interconnection solutions. PlatformDIGITAL®, the company’s global data centre platform, provides customers a trusted foundation and proven Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx™) solution methodology for scaling digital business and efficiently managing data gravity challenges. Digital Realty’s global data centre footprint gives customers access to the connected communities that matter to them with 291 facilities in 47 metros across 24 countries on six continents. Digital Realty currently maintains over 167,000 cross connects and client base of over 4,000 customers.
Apart from upgrading the Medallion existing datacenters to global standards, new world class datacenters will be built in the West African sub-region leading to job creation, rapid acceleration of the digital economy, and much needed foreign direct investment into the sub-region
The combination of the strong regional presence of Medallion, together with Digital Realty’s continued investment in PlatformDIGITAL, the company’s global data centre platform – will support customers in Nigeria and the continent as they navigate digital transformation strategies and the complexities of rapidly growing demand, the need for global coverage, and additional capacity.
Digital Reality had earlier this week in its attempt to foray significantly into the African datacenter market, which many analysts and industry watchers described as untouched, announced the investment of $500million into the African datacenter ecosystem with a huge part of the investment going into the Nigerian market.
The investment is through a joint venture with the Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Fund. Also, as part of the transaction, the joint venture is also acquiring a land parcel adjacent to the hitherto Medallion Lagos data centre to provide near-term expansion capacity with Medallion’s management team, led by CEO and Co-Founder Engr. Ikechukwu Nnamani still leading the business.
Speaking on the investment, William Stein, Chief Executive Officer of Digital Realty, said there is a need to tap into the Africa’s expanding internet economy, noting that over the next decade, there will be huge opportunity for global businesses to tap into with predictions that it could reach 5.2 percent of the continent’s GDP by 2025, contributing nearly $180 billion to its economy up from $115 billion in 2020.
“Starting with Medallion Data Centres in Nigeria, Digital Realty aims to be a core enabler of African economy through major investment in the continent’s internet infrastructure, that serves over one billion people who do not yet have proper access to the benefits of internet,” he said.
William disclosed that the expansion of Digital Realty into the African internet infrastructure is a leap forward but it is just the start of a $500 million commitment to investment in the continent over the next decade, stressing Digital Realty sees a huge opportunity to underpin Africa’s expanding internet economy and ultimately, play a central role in its growth.
This makes the first time a global pure real estate investment trust (REIT) will be entering the country and beats rivals including Equinix (NASDAQ: EQIX), CyrusOne (NYSE: CONE), and CoreSite Realty (NYSE: COR) on entrance into the market. The presence of REITs like Digital Realty in any country is the first step towards the establishment of local content and infrastructure by global hyperscale service providers whose services digitally transform the country of operation.
Telecom
Huawei Plans Data Centre in Nigeria to Boost Local Cloud Capabilities
Huawei Technologies, a Chinese information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure provider, has unveiled plans to launch a significant new data centre in Nigeria, a move that is expected to bolster the country’s cloud infrastructure and support its growing digital economy.
This announcement was made by David Olaiya, head of Cloud Fintech Business Development for Huawei Nigeria, during Nigeria Fintech Week, in Lagos.
The new data centre is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s position as a hub for tech innovation in West Africa.
Scheduled to become fully operational by October 31, 2024, the facility, called ‘Cloud Site’ is designed to provide comprehensive data storage and computing services.
By keeping data within Nigeria’s borders, this initiative aims to align with the country’s data protection policies, which mandate that all user data be stored locally.
This is especially critical for sectors like finance and telecommunications, where data security is paramount.
Many Nigerian businesses, particularly those that have relied on international cloud services, often face compliance challenges when it comes to storing and processing sensitive user data.
These companies have had to send their data across borders, raising concerns about data security and regulatory adherence.
The launch of Huawei’s data centre aims to directly address these issues by allowing businesses to manage their data domestically, ensuring compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
“This centre ensures data sovereignty, offering Nigerian businesses a competitive advantage by keeping sensitive information within the country,” Olaiya stated.
The launch of the data centre comes amid the growing influence of Huawei’s cloud services among Nigerian banks. Reports have emerged that major Nigerian banks including UBA Zenith Bank, Opay, First Bank and others are opting for Huawei’s cloud storage solutions, positioning it as a strong competitor to IBM, which has been a longtime leader in banking technology in Nigeria. The shift by these banks reflects the rising trust in Huawei’s cloud capabilities and its growing influence within the financial sector.
Olaiya also emphasized that the new centre will offer more than just local data storage. It is expected to significantly reduce latency, providing faster access to cloud services, which is crucial for real-time operations such as digital payments and mobile banking.
In addition to data compliance, he noted that the centre will be backed by local technical expertise, which will be key in providing timely support to Nigerian enterprises. Huawei plans to have a dedicated team on the ground, alongside its global 24/7 support infrastructure. This combination of local and global resources promises to deliver seamless service, enabling companies to troubleshoot issues more efficiently and reduce the risks associated with downtime or technical failures.
While this is a milestone for Huawei, Nigeria already hosts data centres from global tech giants such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure.
However, Huawei’s entry into the local cloud landscape is poised to bring additional benefits.
The ‘Cloud Site’ will be part of Huawei’s extensive global network, which spans 93 availability zones in 33 regions around the world, including existing data centres in South Africa and Egypt.
The Nigerian data centre will be linked to Huawei’s other key locations, including facilities in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Dublin, Ireland.
This global integration is expected to not only serve as a critical resource for established businesses in Nigeria, but also to support Africa’s digital transformation in broader terms, creating new opportunities for startups, especially in sectors like fintech, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence (AI), where local data processing can drive innovation.
In a related initiative, Huawei Cloud announced in April 2024 its plan to support 100 Nigerian startups over the next two years.
This commitment includes providing these startups with cloud resources and technical assistance to help them scale their operations and bring new products to market.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has also demonstrated its commitment to data infrastructure, with plans to inaugurate a national data centre by May 2024.
This facility, which will have a storage capacity of 1.4 petabytes, is intended to securely store critical national data, including biometric information of Nigerian citizens.
Overall, Huawei’s entry into Nigeria’s data centre market is set to complement these efforts, further establishing the country as a regional leader in cloud computing and data services.
Telecom
NCC to Introduce Revised Governance Code for Sustainable Telecom Practices
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is preparing to issue a revised corporate governance code, updating the 2016 version with a key focus on the introduction of mandatory sustainability reporting for telecom operators, according to Dr. Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman of the commission.
Maida said that the initiative is aimed at aligning the sector with global environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, promoting greater transparency and supporting sustainable development within Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape.
He, disclosed this during his address at the 2024 Annual Corporate Governance Conference in Lagos, State, themed “Corporate Survival and Sustainability: The New Face of Governance.”
The sustainability reporting involves organisations disclosing information about their ESG performance.
This practice provides stakeholders—including investors, customers, and regulators—with insights into how telecom operators manage risks and opportunities related to sustainability. Key components include reporting on carbon emissions, resource usage, labour practices, community engagement, and data privacy.
Maida emphasized the importance of sustainability in corporate governance, highlighting that “such practices are no longer optional but essential for the long-term success of telecom companies.”
He presented findings from a comprehensive NCC analysis evaluating corporate governance among telecom operators. Key indicators examined included board composition, diversity, effectiveness, ethical conduct, compliance, risk management, and corporate social responsibility.
The analysis revealed a strong correlation between effective governance and regulatory compliance, with companies not excelling in governance facing poor financial performance.
Telecom
Samsung Unveils New Galaxy A06 dubbed ‘Galaxy Wey Sabi’ Nigeria – Nigeria
Samsung Electronics has officially unveiled the latest addition to the popular Galaxy A series smartphones – the Samsung Galaxy A06.
Joining a fan favorite series and combining powerful performance with a sleek design, the Galaxy A06 offers customers and loyal A series fans unique features and premium experience at an affordable price.
The stylish Galaxy A06 is set to redefine what users expect from entry-level smartphones, offering cutting-edge technology without compromise.
Aptly, tagged “Galaxy Wey Sabi”, the Galaxy A06 stands out in the competitive category as it aims to resolve the customers’ needs in a smartphone with focus on durability, functionality, security, camera, and entertainment.
Users can enjoy capturing high-resolution photos with the 50MP rear camera, now equipped with Nightography for capturing the essence of every detail especially in low-light conditions. The 8MP front and 2MP (depth) cameras also provide crystal-clear selfies with advanced beautification features.
Spotting a slimmer design and comfortable grip, as well as a side fingerprint scanner, the new Galaxy A06 features a stunning 6.7” HD+ display, providing vivid colors and crisp clarity for an immersive viewing experience that delivers seamless visuals on the infinity-U display with enhanced brightness, especially for outdoor visibility.
Galaxy A06 – Galaxy Wey Sabi is truly a device, which understands your needs, equipped with a 5000mAh long-lasting battery, you can enjoy more device usage without worrying about battery life. The 25W Super-Fast Charging feature ensures up to 50% battery charge in just 30mins, meaning you are back in action quickly.
“The Samsung assurance is a promise, a trustworthy reliability in our Knox Security on this device, which protects your personal information by isolating your passwords and other private data within a secure environment,” said Stephen Okwara, Head Product Management, Samsung Electronics West Africa. “What also awesome about this is our promise of continuous OS upgrades and up to 4 years security update on this device. Isn’t that impressive from a brand that understands the needs of its customers?”
Also speaking at the Galaxy A06 launch event in Lagos, Oge Maduagwu, Head of Marketing, Samsung Electronics West Africa said: “We are excited to introduce the Galaxy A06, which brings together powerful performance, an advanced camera, and long-lasting battery life, all in a stylish and affordable package,” She added: “Also customers can enjoy premium support for their device with a screen damage insurance cover of just N9000.
Available in four stunning colors – Black, Blue Green, Lime and Silver – The Samsung Galaxy A06 will be available in Nigeria at all authorized Samsung Stores from 11th October 2024, with pricing starting at N146,000.
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