Schneider, IXAfrica launch $50m hyperscale data center in Kenya

AFRICAN BUSINESS AND ECONOMYJuly 22, 2024 at 2:51 PM UTC

TLDR

Schneider Electric and IXAfrica Data Centres launch East Africa's first and largest hyper-cloud data center, NBOX1, featuring Schneider Electric's high-quality switchgear for reliable cloud services.
NBOX1 is a carrier-neutral, AI-ready data center in Kenya, offering advanced digital infrastructure for cloud, colocation, and connectivity services.
The facility is backed by a $50 million investment from Helios Investment Partners, enhancing East Africa's technology landscape with sustainable and innovative solutions.

Schneider Electric and IXAfrica Data Centres have launched what is described as East Africa’s first and largest hyper-cloud data center in Nairobi.

The new Tier 3+ facility, NBOX1, features Schneider Electric’s medium and low-voltage switchgear, ensuring reliable cloud services powered by Kenya’s renewable grid.

Now open and operational, NBOX1 is a carrier-neutral, AI-ready data center, making it the region’s most advanced digital hub for cloud, colocation, and connectivity. It is backed by a $50 million investment from Helios Investment Partners.

Key Takeaways

Kenya's data center market reached $227 million in 2023 and is projected to grow to $440 million by 2029, according to a recent sectoral survey. This growth reflects increasing competitiveness in the market, with major IT infrastructure vendors such as Cisco Systems and Dell Technologies entering the space to meet the rising demand. The expansion of Kenya's data center market mirrors broader trends in the African data center and digital infrastructure market.

Schneider Electric

IXAfrica Data Centres

Helios Investment Partners

Digital Infrastructure

NBOX1

Data Center

Kenya

East Africa