Africa Races to Build Data Centers, But Digital Divide Persists

Africa is experiencing a surge in data center investment. Google's Equiano subsea cable, linking Africa's west coast to Europe, has increased connectivity bandwidth significantly. The Open Access Data Centers (OADC) campus in Lagos is among the flagship projects symbolizing the new wave of investment.

Despite this momentum, the continent accounts for just 0.6% of global data center capacity. More than 63% of Africans lack access to mobile internet, highlighting what analysts describe as a two-Africa divide. Power infrastructure remains the single biggest constraint, forcing data centers to run on diesel generators.