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.
A DIGITAL REVOLUTION
Kenya’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-the-art 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.
“IXAfrica is the leading hyperscale data centre provider in East and Central Africa, offering state-of-the-art facilities for cloud, colocation, and connectivity services”
Snehar Shah, CEO, IXAfrica
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 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.
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.
VALUABLE PARTNERSHIPS
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 staff members’ fields to equip them with the necessary tools for their continued success.
The company is building a world-class 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.
