IX Africa

FACILITATING RAPID EXPANSION OF DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN EAST AFRICA

A D I G I TA L R E VO L U T I O N IXAfrica is the site of a considerable tech revolution as Kenya’s investment in digital infrastructure continues to expand. Snehar Shah, CEO, tells us more about the company’s recent growth Writer: Lily Sawyer | Project Manager: Bex Middleton

IXAFRICA TECHNOLOGY

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enya’s technology sector, often dubbed the ‘Silicon Savannah’, is rapidly developing into a hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.

The country has seen increased public and commercial investment in digital infrastructure, creating a climate that supports the growth of forward-thinking enterprises. In turn, this has resulted in a remarkable expansion of sectors such as mobile communications, e-commerce, and FinTech in Kenya.

The potential for innovation and growth in this field is exciting, especially considering Kenya’s youthful and tech-savvy population.

IXAfrica’s Nairobi One data centre is leading the way in enabling this digital revolution.

“IXAfrica is the leading hyperscale data centre provider in East and Central Africa, offering state-of-theart facilities for cloud, colocation, and connectivity services,” opens Snehar Shah, CEO. The company has plans for multiple data centres strategically located across the region, which ensure reliable and wide-reaching services for every client.

IXAfrica’s customer base spans an extensive number of industries, from financial institutions to tech firms, who all rely on the company for critical infrastructure needs.

With a dedicated team of highly skilled professionals, IXAfrica’s diverse workforce is committed to delivering exceptional service.

LEADING THE WAY IXAfrica is proud to be the largest digital habitat in East Africa for cloud, colocation, and connectivity.

Its data centres are equipped with cutting-edge technology, ensuring consistently reliable, uninterrupted services.

“We have invested significantly in our infrastructure, making us the largest data centre project in the region. Our aim is to provide Africa Outlook Issue 105 | 3

IXAFRICA TECHNOLOGY

a world-class environment for businesses looking to harness the power of digital transformation in East and Central Africa,” Shah shares.

IXAfrica prioritises security, redundancy, and scalability, ensuring that its clients’ data is readily available. Significantly, the company is currently the only campus in East Africa fully equipped with the ability to host artificial intelligence (AI) servers from the hyperscalers.

At 4.5 megawatts (MW), IXAfrica’s first phase is already the largest in the country. Its plans to build a further 18MW in its current campus, in addition to potentially 53MW on a second site in Tilisi, will make the company a considerable tech giant in the industry.

“What sets IXAfrica apart is our unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation,” adds Shah.

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Africa Outlook: Could you tell us more about IXAfrica’s dedication to sustainable and responsible corporate practices?

Snehar Shah, CEO: “Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a fundamental part of our business ethos. We are committed to sustainability both in our operations and in the communities we serve, and have adopted a wide range of innovations in the data centre industry.

“We are in discussions with a view to implementing other renewable sources, such as solar, to supplement power generation from the grid. Additionally, our data centre has been designed to operate at a power usage effectiveness (PUE) of 1.25 at maximum load, meaning it can run in a more efficient manner compared to the European benchmark of 1.40.

“Kenya’s energy is 92 percent renewable, sourced from a combination of geothermal, hydro, wind, and solar energy. IXAfrica seeks to align with the country’s sustainable practices by regularly directing impact studies for noise, light, gas, water, and traffic pollution, to ensure we are compliant with rigorous environment, health, and safety (EHS) processes and practices.

“Our ‘Keep it Africa’ modus operandi is focused on a sustainable supply chain by localising and regionalising procurement. This objective will boost the local economy and ensure that the company maintains a reduced carbon footprint.”

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• Colocation services

A recent USD$50 million investment in expansion reflects IXAfrica’s commitment to meeting the growing demands of its clients and, in turn, bolstering the region’s digital transformation.

• Remote hands and eyes

VALUABLE PARTNERSHIPS

IXAFRICA SERVICES – AT A GLANCE

• Industry solutions • Migration services • Connectivity options • Bespoke data halls • Campus specifications • Internet exchanges

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Partners, suppliers, and a wealth of dedicated staff are integral to IXAfrica’s undeniable success in recent years. The company also collaborates closely with technology partners and suppliers to maintain the highest standards in its services.

“We have partnered with the London Internet Exchange (LINX), which is one of the largest peering networks in the world. With its point of presence in Kenya, internet service providers (ISPs) will be able to connect to the wider LINX network,”

excites Shah.

IXAfrica also collaborates with cloud and technology companies to provide them with a robust and reliable environment, whilst an extensive satellite landing station capacity enhances connectivity options.

Additionally, the company’s serviced office space offers a convenient on-campus location for businesses to operate and collaborate, fostering innovation and growth in-house.

“Our talented staff are the backbone of our organisation, and their expertise and dedication are crucial in providing top-tier services to our clients,” he continues.

IXAfrica actively recruits qualified engineers and technicians, whilst providing cutting-edge training in

“IXAFRICA IS THE LEADING HYPERSCALE D ATA C E N T R E P R O V I D E R I N E A S T A N D C E N T R A L A F R I C A , O F F E R I N G S TAT E - O F -T H E A R T FA C I L I T I E S F O R C L O U D , C O L O C AT I O N , AND CONNECTIVITY SERVICES” – SNEHAR SHAH, CEO, IXAFRICA

staff members’ fields to equip them with the necessary tools for their continued success.

The company is building a worldclass team based locally in Nairobi, Kenya, thanks to Founder and Chair, Guy Willner, an experienced veteran in the industry having grown IXEurope and sold it to Equinix in 2007.

Its senior leadership was also behind the set-up of Teraco in South Africa, having run other large data centre operations in the region.

“Our partners and shareholders have been driving the largest power engineering projects in Africa in partnership with global leaders such as Schneider,” adds Shah.

LOOK TO THE FUTURE IXAfrica is continuously exploring opportunities to enhance its services

and support digital transformation in the region and beyond.

“We are actively evaluating partnerships and investments that align with our mission of advancing technology in the region,” Shah divulges.

IXAfrica is committed to staying at the forefront of cloud connectivity.

Its key priorities for the coming year include the successful completion of its extensive expansion project.

Through the company’s evolution, it intends to further strengthen its ecosystem of cloud and technology partners and continue to innovate in the data centre space. In addition, IXAfrica will explore new partnerships and investment opportunities that align with its ethos and core values.

The widespread implementation of hyperscalers is the company’s most

recent objective. Kenya’s growing internet penetration makes it a prime destination for this development, whilst the majority of the country’s power generation is renewable, contributing to the sustainability goals of the proposal.

“The revolution to implement hyperscalers has begun. It is not a question of if, but when IXAfrica is able to host the cloud locally to meet the data sovereignty and latency requirements,” Shah concludes.

IXAFRICA Tel: +254 793 973 584 info@ixafrica.co.ke www.ixafrica.co.ke Africa Outlook Issue 105 | 7

IXAFRICA Cabanas, Mombasa Road, Nairobi, KENYA Tel: +254 793 973 584 info@ixafrica.co.ke www.ixafrica.co.ke

PRODUCED BY AFRICA OUTLOOK MAGAZINE