The news
- Equinix has launched the LG2.3 data centre in Lagos, enhancing Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
- This expansion aligns with Equinix’s strategy to grow its presence in Africa’s emerging digital markets and intensifies competition in West Africa’s tech infrastructure sector.
Equinix, a global digital infrastructure company, has officially opened its latest data centre expansion, LG2.3, in Lagos. This development aims to bolster Nigeria’s digital economy by providing advanced data solutions to meet the increasing demand for digital services in the region.
The LG2.3 facility is part of Equinix’s broader strategy to expand its footprint across Africa’s emerging digital markets. The company is actively advancing three major data centre projects in Nigeria, with future expansion plans for Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and South Africa. This initiative reflects Equinix’s commitment to enabling secure, scalable, and sustainable digital growth on the continent.
Nigeria’s digital landscape has witnessed significant growth, with internet traffic increasing by approximately 200% since Equinix partnered with Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX) in Lagos. This surge underscores the escalating demand for robust data infrastructure to support the country’s expanding digital services sector.
Equinix’s expansion in Lagos contributes to the intensifying competition in West Africa’s tech infrastructure sector.
Other global and regional players are also investing in the region, recognising the potential for digital transformation and the need for advanced data solutions. For instance, ST Digital has announced plans to build three data centres in Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo.
The establishment of advanced data centres like LG2.3 is crucial for supporting local startups, enterprises, and the broader digital economy in Nigeria. These facilities provide the necessary infrastructure for data storage, processing, and distribution, enabling businesses to operate more efficiently and innovate in the digital space.
However, the expansion of data centres in Nigeria is not without challenges. Rising energy costs, particularly diesel prices, have been straining the operations of data centres, potentially impacting other essential technology services, including internet consumption and cloud services.
Addressing these challenges is essential to ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of data centre operations in supporting Nigeria’s digital economy.
