South Africa's Data Centre Boom: Expansion and Investments Fueling the Digital Economy

As South Africa's digital economy surges, the demand for robust and innovative data centre solutions is reaching unprecedented levels. The backbone of this technological renaissance lies within the country’s top data centre providers – Africa Data Centres, Business Connexion (BCX), Open-Access Data Centres (OADC), and Teraco. These industry titans are not merely data repositories; they constitute a vibrant digital ecosystem brimming with millions in investments, vast business support, and significant international attention.

Notably, data centres have evolved into pivotal assets for hosting providers, hyperscalers, and an array of online services. Within these high-tech warehouses, Internet Exchange operators thrive, facilitating a seamless interconnection of networks. These facilities ensure unyielding power supplies, provide expansive resources, and ample real estate for businesses to manage their IT infrastructure. Amidst these, the indispensable aspects of modern data centres such as advanced cooling systems and sophisticated backup power remain critical to guard against disruptions and maintain optimal server performance.

Teraco stands out with its ambitious growth blueprint, heralding key upgrades and expansions. A notable highlight is the DB1 facility in Durban, which now boasts 2.2MW of critical power and 5,800m2 of space. In Cape Town, Teraco's CT2 hyperscale endeavour is set to deliver a staggering 73,000 square meters of structure powered by 90 megavolt-amperes of electricity. Furthermore, Johannesburg celebrates the completion of phase one of the JB4 facility, which promises to be one of Africa's largest single-site data centres on completion, offering 8,000m2 of data hall space and 50MW of critical power load supplied by an 80MW utility power feed.

BCX, owned by telecommunications giant Telkom, continues to solidify its position with a vast network of 12 data centres across various metro areas, including extremely secure tier 4 facilities in Midrand and Bellville. Wrapped in innovation, BCX's state-of-the-art headquarters in Centurion emerged as a testament to its future-forward vision, equipped with 36,000 square meters of office space and a significant warehouse facility.

OADC, a subsidiary of WIOCC, has made considerable strides with its recent deployment of a core data centre in Isando, Johannesburg. Tailored for the cloud ecosystem, the facility provides 1,600 square metres of IT space and up to 7MW of site load, scalable to 15MW. Further extending its reach, OADC also unveiled operational data centres in Rondebosch and Brackenfell. The company's edge data centre network, now exceeding 30 facilities in South Africa, emboldens its strategic focus on supporting burgeoning 5G networks and regional network expansion requirements.

Africa Data Centres, another key player, initiated construction on its second Cape Town facility in January 2023. On completion, the site will support a 20MW IT load, reinforcing the city’s data capacity and resilience. Additionally, the provider’s partnership with INX-ZA has ushered in free remote peering opportunities for customers, further enhancing connectivity solutions.

Collectively, South Africa's data centre providers are crafting a digital infrastructure landscape that not only bolsters the country's technological prowess but also projects it as a critical player in the global data economy. The substantial investments and expansions underway reveal an ecosystem ready for the manifold opportunities and challenges of a data-driven future.