MTN Nigeria has officially launched what it describes as West Africa’s largest Tier III data centre on July 1, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the region’s digital infrastructure development. The facility represents one of the largest data centres across the entire African continent.
The Sifiso Dabengwa Data Centre: Technical Specifications
The new facility, named the Sifiso Dabengwa Data Centre in honor of MTN Nigeria’s former CEO, boasts impressive technical capabilities:
Current Phase 1 Specifications
- Capacity: 4.5 megawatts (first phase)
- Total planned capacity: 9 megawatts across both phases
- Future expansion potential: Up to 14-20 megawatts based on demand
- Investment value: $235 million for both phases
- Cloud infrastructure cost: $20 million
The telecommunications giant has strategically launched the first phase while keeping the second phase ready for deployment based on market demand for computing power.
Competing with Global Tech Giants
MTN Nigeria claims its new data centre features cloud infrastructure that rivals offerings from major global providers including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.
Roger Shutte, MTN Nigeria’s General Manager for Infrastructure, revealed during the press briefing that the facility is designed for significant scalability, with potential expansion to 14 or even 20 megawatts depending on future market demand.
Leadership Vision for Nigeria’s Digital Future
Karl Toriola, MTN Nigeria’s CEO, emphasized the strategic importance of this investment during the launch event: “We are proud of this milestone, describing it as a step towards enabling growth and supporting Nigeria’s tech ecosystem. We are going to continue to expand the capacity that we have, and part of that is the readiness for artificial intelligence.”
The naming of the facility pays tribute to Sifiso Dabengwa, MTN Nigeria’s former CEO, whom Toriola credited with paving the way for the telecom operator’s success in Nigeria.
Revolutionary Self-Orchestration Cloud Services
First-of-Its-Kind Technology in Nigeria
Lynda Saint-Nwafor, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, announced that the data centre offers self-orchestration capabilities—the first of its kind in Nigeria. This groundbreaking feature allows developers to:
- Log in and independently manage computing resources
- Control storage needs remotely
- Access services similar to Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure
- Operate with complete autonomy over their cloud infrastructure
Competitive Advantages for Nigerian Businesses
Local Hosting Benefits
Saint-Nwafor highlighted several key advantages for Nigerian businesses:
Lower Latency: Hosting data in Lagos provides faster access and reduced latency for Nigerian businesses compared to international providers.
Naira Pricing: Unlike global providers who may accept naira payments, MTN prices its services directly in naira, providing significant advantages for businesses earning revenue in the local currency.
Reduced Dependency: Nigerian startups and businesses no longer need to rely exclusively on global providers like Amazon and Microsoft.
Industry Context and Market Predictions
The launch aligns with industry predictions made by Ernest Akinlola, a former executive at T-Mobile Germany, Virgin Mobile UK, and Etisalat Nigeria. Akinlola previously predicted that telecommunications companies would pivot toward B2B services such as data centres, especially as recent tariff hikes—including the 50% increase—would not be sufficient to sustain revenue growth.
Investment Strategy and Long-Term Vision
While MTN CEO Toriola declined to disclose the expected return on investment (ROI) for the data centre to Techpoint Africa, the scale of the $235 million investment and plans for future expansion clearly indicate that MTN is playing the long game in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure sector.
Impact on Nigeria’s Tech Ecosystem
Supporting AI Readiness
The data centre’s design specifically accommodates artificial intelligence workloads, positioning Nigeria for the next wave of technological advancement.
Ecosystem Development
The facility is expected to:
- Support local startups with enterprise-grade infrastructure
- Reduce Nigeria’s dependence on foreign cloud providers
- Accelerate digital transformation across various industries
- Create new opportunities for local tech talent
West Africa’s Digital Infrastructure Milestone
This launch represents a significant step forward for West Africa’s digital infrastructure landscape. The Sifiso Dabengwa Data Centre positions Nigeria as a regional hub for cloud computing and data services, potentially attracting international businesses seeking reliable, local infrastructure solutions.
The facility’s Tier III certification ensures high availability and redundancy, meeting international standards for mission-critical applications and enterprise workloads.
Future Expansion Plans
MTN Nigeria’s phased approach to the data centre rollout demonstrates strategic planning:
- Phase 1: 4.5 megawatts (currently operational)
- Phase 2: Additional 4.5 megawatts (demand-based deployment)
- Future phases: Potential expansion to 14-20 megawatts
This scalable approach allows MTN to respond dynamically to market needs while optimizing capital deployment.
