Airtel strengthens presence with new data hubs in Nigeria, Kenya

Airtel Africa, the telecoms group that operates across 14 African countries, is building major data centre hubs in Nigeria and Kenya as part of a wider effort to localise data processing and strengthen Africa’s digital backbone.

Chief Executive Sunil Taldar told delegates at the Mobile World Congress 2025 in Kigali that the company would invest in data hubs across Nigeria and Kenya. The annual gathering of industry leaders, innovators and policymakers is examining how digital technologies are reshaping Africa’s economic landscape, the telco said in an email on Wednesday.

He said Airtel Africa’s data centre projects in Nigeria and Kenya would function as regional digital hubs, supporting cloud computing, fintech and AI-driven innovation. The initiative, he added, reflects the firm’s ambition to create a connected Africa, one where data is processed locally, talent is developed nationally, and innovation is scaled globally.

“This requires partnerships between operators who co-build, technology manufacturers who equip, regulators who enable, investors who believe, tax regimes that support, and young Africans who create,” Taldar added.

He said Africa’s next telecoms revolution would hinge on partnerships, artificial intelligence and data centres, pillars he described as essential for driving productivity and sustaining the continent’s digital growth.

“Africa’s digital decade has begun. The continent that once leapfrogged into mobile telephony is now ready to leap again into an era where every byte of data fuels productivity and every connection builds prosperity,” the executive stated.

Taldar noted that Airtel Africa was positioning itself to power this next leap by investing heavily in data infrastructure and AI-driven operations.

“Africa’s digital future needs AI to make networks smarter and greener, customer experiences more intuitive, and mobile money more secure. It will also require a connected network of data centres linked by high-capacity fibre to unlock inclusive digital participation even in remote regions,” he said.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest telecoms market by subscribers, remains one of Airtel’s biggest operations. Kenya, by contrast, is regarded as one of the continent’s most advanced digital economies, with deep fintech adoption and a supportive regulatory climate. By situating data hubs in both markets, Airtel is positioning its infrastructure investment at two strategic points in Africa’s digital value chain.

The Airtel boss also revealed that the company had begun deploying AI across its operations, including SMS spam detection, customer onboarding, mobile money fraud prevention and site energy optimisation measures aimed at enhancing efficiency and customer trust.

In his opening remarks at the conference, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame commended Africa’s rapid progress in connectivity and mobile adoption, urging governments and private sector players to deepen collaboration on cross-border data and payment systems.

“While the challenges that Africa faces are significant, they also offer great growth potential if we collaborate. Governments, the private sector and other partners should harmonise policies and create the right environment for innovation,” Kagame said. “The future we must build is an Africa that is bold, connected and competitive.”