Africa Data Centres, a leading provider of co-location services, has announced a significant expansion of its CPT1 facility in Cape Town, South Africa. This move comes as a direct response to the burgeoning demand for co-location capacity in the region. With the addition of three new state-of-the-art halls, the expansion will add another 6MW of IT load, effectively doubling the current capacity of the facility.
Strategic Expansion to Support Growth
The expansion project, supported by a substantial loan of up to $300 million from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), underscores the strategic importance of Cape Town as a key technology and economic hub in Southern Africa. Hardy Pemhiwa, President & Group CEO of Cassava, highlighted the significance of this expansion: “This expansion by Africa Data Centres is in response to the increasing demand for co-location capacity in South Africa. Not only is Cape Town the second largest economy in South Africa, but it is also the de facto software and technology hub in Southern Africa.”
Cape Town’s role as a major economic center is further bolstered by its status as a prime location for national and international cloud and IT service providers looking to expand their operations in the region. The CPT1 facility’s expansion is expected to cater to this growing market, providing the necessary infrastructure to support the increasing data needs of businesses and organizations.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
The expansion adds 1000 racks of white space, or the space available for customers to lease, to the existing facility. However, the physical site itself is significantly larger, encompassing two additional colocation data halls and one hyperscale hall. These new halls are built using the cutting-edge modular design pioneered by Africa Data Centres, which allows for rapid scalability and a modern design that can be populated as and when required to meet customer needs.
The modular design is a key feature of the new halls, enabling the facility to expand quickly and efficiently. This approach ensures that the data center can adapt to the evolving requirements of its customers, providing flexible and scalable solutions that are essential in today’s fast-paced technology landscape.
Meeting the Demand for Co-Location Services
The data center market in South Africa is experiencing tremendous growth, driven by the increasing need for reliable and scalable co-location services. Both national and international cloud and IT service providers are looking to expand their footprints in the region, and Africa Data Centres is well-positioned to meet this demand.
The CPT1 facility in Cape Town is a critical part of Africa Data Centres’ strategy to support the growth of the digital economy in South Africa. By doubling its capacity, the facility will be able to accommodate more customers and provide the necessary infrastructure to support their operations.
Conclusion
Africa Data Centres’ expansion of its CPT1 facility in Cape Town is a testament to the growing demand for co-location capacity in South Africa. With the support of a substantial loan from the US International Development Finance Corporation, the addition of three new state-of-the-art halls will effectively double the facility’s capacity. This expansion will not only support the growth of the digital economy in South Africa but also reinforce Cape Town’s position as a key technology and economic hub in Southern Africa. With its cutting-edge modular design, the expanded facility will provide flexible and scalable solutions to meet the evolving needs of customers, ensuring that Africa Data Centres remains at the forefront of the data center market in the region.
