MTN Moves Into AI-Ready Data Centres With New African Venture

MTN Group has partnered with a UAE-backed investment platform to establish Africa Data Hub Holding Limited, a new company focused on developing data centres for cloud providers and enterprises across Africa. The venture will initially focus on Nigeria and South Africa, where MTN plans to expand its computing and cloud infrastructure while sharing the capital required to develop large-scale data centres. MTN announced the partnership in its first-half 2026 financial report published on August 24. The company said the venture will develop AI-ready data centres as demand for cloud services, data storage and computing capacity increases across the continent.

Nigeria and South Africa Lead the First Phase

Nigeria will be one of the first markets under the new venture. MTN inaugurated its Sifiso Dabengwa data centre in Lagos in July 2025. The two-phase facility has an estimated investment of $240 million.

In South Africa, Africa Data Hub will enter a market that already has several local and international data centre operators. MTN plans to use the new venture to add capacity as demand for cloud and enterprise services increases.

Demand for cloud services in Africa is growing by an estimated 25% to 30% a year, according to Xalam Analytics. The growth in AI applications is also expected to increase demand for data storage and computing infrastructure. Africa’s AI market is projected to grow from $4.5 billion in 2025 to $16.5 billion by 2030, according to Mastercard, citing Statista data.

The new company will allow MTN to expand its data centre footprint beyond Nigeria and South Africa as demand develops in other African markets. The move also adds to MTN’s broader push into cloud, enterprise technology and digital services. Other telecom operators are pursuing similar investments. Airtel Africa, for example, has announced data centre projects in markets including Kenya and Nigeria.