Safaricom PLC has partnered with iXAfrica Data Centre to launch East Africa’s first AI-ready data centre services, positioning Kenya as a regional leader in digital infrastructure and Artificial Intelligence deployment.
The partnership brings together Safaricom’s extensive market reach and enterprise solutions portfolio with iXAfrica’s hyperscale-ready infrastructure to deliver robust, scalable, and energy-efficient data centre services. The new offering is designed to support advanced workloads including AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and business continuity.
The collaboration targets enterprise and government clients across the region, offering end-to-end solutions that include data storage, backup, high-performance computing, connectivity, and managed services — all under a single, trusted Safaricom contract.
“As East Africa’s digital economy grows, businesses need secure and scalable infrastructure to support the next wave of innovation,” said Dr. Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom PLC. “Our partnership with iXAfrica enables us to offer world-class data centre services while advancing our ambition to become Africa’s leading purpose-led technology company by 2030.”
The AI-ready data centre services will be hosted at iXAfrica’s flagship facility — the NBOX1 Campus in Nairobi. With a capacity of 22.5MW, it is the largest data centre development in Greater East Africa. The site is strategically located along key fiber optic routes and is powered by renewable energy sources, aligning with both companies’ commitments to sustainable digital growth.
“This collaboration is a perfect synergy of market leadership and technological excellence,” said Guy Willner, Chairman of iXAfrica. “Together with Safaricom, we are creating a digital ecosystem that will accelerate innovation, enhance data sovereignty, and drive regional economic development.”
The data centre’s enterprise suites will start at 350kW and scale up to over 1MW, offering flexibility for organizations with varying workload demands. The infrastructure is specifically engineered to handle the dense computing and cooling needs of AI, enabling local execution of AI tasks that would otherwise require overseas deployment.
This development is particularly timely for industries such as finance, retail, and manufacturing. In banking, AI can now be deployed locally for fraud detection, credit risk modelling, and personalized services. In manufacturing and retail, the same infrastructure supports supply chain optimization, IoT analytics, and real-time demand forecasting — all within Kenya’s borders, ensuring regulatory compliance and reduced latency.
Safaricom, which serves more than 49 million customers and is known for innovations in mobile money, fintech, and enterprise connectivity, sees the partnership as a leap forward in creating a digital economy powered by local infrastructure.
The initiative taps into Kenya’s strategic geographic location and its strong renewable energy mix, with over 90% of the country’s electricity coming from clean sources — making it an ideal environment for sustainable digital operations.
With the combined strengths of Safaricom and iXAfrica, this AI-ready data centre service is expected to set a new benchmark for digital transformation in the region, offering enterprises the tools they need to thrive in the age of AI and cloud-driven innovation.
