The digital revolution is profoundly reshaping African economies, with technological infrastructure at the heart of this transformation. In this context, data centers are emerging as critical drivers, ensuring access to efficient and sovereign digital services.

Cameroonian cloud service provider ST DIGITAL launched the construction of its Tier 3 data center on Friday, November 22, at the VITIB technology park in Grand-Bassam, Côte d’Ivoire. This strategic project aims to bolster the country's digital sovereignty and meet the growing demand for advanced digital services.

"Our data center, spanning 4,000 square meters, will be a high-security, state-of-the-art, eco-friendly infrastructure with a reduced carbon footprint. We’ve even planned innovative initiatives such as creating artificial lakes and vegetable gardens using outputs from the air-conditioning systems," said Steve Tchouaga, CEO of ST DIGITAL.

This initiative comes as digital transformation accelerates across Africa, accompanied by a surge in cloud adoption. According to PwC's Africa Cloud Business Survey 2023, published in February 2024, 50% of African businesses have already integrated cloud technology into their operations, and 61% plan to fully transition by 2026.

Set to be operational by the end of the first quarter of 2025, the new data center will offer cutting-edge services, including modular colocation spaces, a landing station for submarine cables, and infrastructure designed for artificial intelligence. For Côte d’Ivoire, the facility represents a strategic lever to fast-track digital transformation, foster the local economy, and position Grand-Bassam as a leading tech hub in West Africa, driving innovation and attracting new investments.

Samira Njoya