Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, has collaborated with Nxtra by Airtel Africa to support the company’s data centre expansion across the continent, beginning with a flagship 42 MW facility in Nigeria.
The project marks Nxtra’s entry into the African market, leveraging its extensive experience operating hyperscale data centres in India. The Nigeria data centre will be deployed in four phases and is expected to be fully operational by 2028. Vertiv will equip the site with advanced thermal management and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems and will oversee commissioning, handover, and five years of maintenance operations through its on-ground Nigerian service team.
“Nxtra has been a valued customer for nearly three decades,” said Karsten Winther, President of Vertiv for Europe, Middle East, and Africa. “This next chapter showcases how local African expertise and international innovation can deliver infrastructure capable of powering the continent’s digital future.”
Yash Issur, CEO of Nxtra by Airtel Africa, added that Vertiv’s blend of global scale and local technical presence made it an ideal partner: “As we invest in high-capacity, high-quality data centres for Africa, Vertiv’s proven reliability and expertise across regions ensure we can scale confidently from India to Africa.”
According to Wojtek Piorko, Managing Director, Africa at Vertiv, the partnership represents a major milestone in building Africa’s digital backbone. “With data demand surging across the continent, Vertiv and Nxtra are creating resilient, energy-efficient infrastructure that will support Africa’s next phase of digital growth,” he said.
Beyond the Nigeria site, Vertiv is also collaborating with Nxtra on additional projects across Airtel Africa’s operating markets. The next major facility, planned in Nairobi, Kenya, is expected to exceed the Nigerian data centre in capacity — signaling broader continental ambitions for both companies.
