Telecommunications giant, Airtel Nigeria, plans to construct a 38 megawatt hyperscale data center in Eko Atlantic.
Airtel Nigeria is set to bolster the country's digital infrastructure with a new 38-megawatt hyperscale data center in Eko Atlantic City, Lagos. The project, estimated to cost around $120 million, is scheduled to be operational by the first quarter of 2026.
The data center, branded as "Nxtra by Airtel", will be one of Nigeria's largest and will focus on supporting cloud services, artificial intelligence (AI), and business data processing. It will feature over 3,000 server racks, equipped with GPU capabilities to run large AI models, advanced cooling systems, and backup power sources, aiming for high energy efficiency with a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.3.
Located in the high-security Eko Atlantic district, the data center offers strategic advantages, including proximity to undersea cable landing stations and dense fibre routes. This location addresses Nigeria’s increasing demand for cloud infrastructure and AI services, aligning with national strategies promoting tech industry development and local infrastructure enhancement.
The timeline involves serious development starting in 2025, with the facility expected to be operational by Q1 2026. During construction, the project will create over 1,000 jobs, and once operational, it will support at least 250 permanent positions in areas like data center operations, cybersecurity, and hardware maintenance.
Airtel Nigeria CEO Dinesh Balsingh stated that the data center represents the company's long-term commitment to building digital infrastructure that supports cloud, AI, and the broader digital economy. He added that this investment would boost Airtel's national service capabilities and contribute to Nigeria's readiness for AI, fintech, and next-gen digital services.
The data center is engineered for high power density, up to 25 kilowatts per rack, and is designed to serve hyperscalers, government agencies, and enterprises of all sizes. It will also feature carrier-neutral connectivity, ensuring a diverse and resilient network for its customers.
This project represents a strategic move by Airtel Nigeria to position itself as a key player in Africa’s growing digital economy and AI sector. By reducing its reliance on foreign cloud providers like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, Airtel is contributing to Nigeria's digital sovereignty and local tech industry growth.
| Aspect | Details | |--------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | Location | Eko Atlantic, Lagos | | Capacity | 38 megawatts hyperscale data center | | Investment | $120 million | | Timeline | Development starts in 2025, operational Q1 2026 | | Features | 3,000+ server racks, GPU-equipped, advanced cooling, PUE 1.3 | | Purpose | Support AI, cloud services, business data processing | | Impact | Creates 1,000+ construction jobs; 250+ permanent jobs; boosts local tech infrastructure and AI readiness; reduces foreign cloud dependency |
- The upcoming data center, Nxtra by Airtel, situated in the high-security Eko Atlantic district, will be one of Nigeria's largest and is designed to support cloud services, artificial intelligence (AI), and business data processing.
- The project will feature over 3,000 server racks, equipped with GPU capabilities to run large AI models, advanced cooling systems, and backup power sources, aiming for high energy efficiency with a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.3.
- By reducing its reliance on foreign cloud providers like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, Airtel Nigeria aims to contribute to Nigeria's digital sovereignty and local tech industry growth.
- In addition to serving hyperscalers, government agencies, and enterprises of all sizes, the carrier-neutral connectivity of the data center ensures a diverse and resilient network for its customers, helping to address Nigeria's increasing demand for cloud infrastructure and AI services.
