MTN Nigeria has expressed readiness to construct its West African largest data centre, a facility with a 1,500-rack and Tier 4 data centre within the country.
D’Gallery gathered that a completely fault-tolerant Tier 4 data centre shall be built and shall have redundancy for every component as well as an expected uptime of 99.995 per cent.
If completed, it can withstand a wide range of potential disruptions and would offer the most reliable infrastructure.
MTN Chief Technical Officer, Mr Mohammed Rufai, who disclosed this to newsmen in Lagos on Saturday, said that construction of the data centre was with a view to enhancing Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
According to him, the data centre would play a crucial role in meeting the increasing data demands and digital needs of businesses and consumers across the country.
Rufai added that the new data hub would support MTN’s infrastructure and serve as an important outlet for businesses across Nigeria.
“Businesses that require data centre capacity can now forgo maintaining their server rooms,” he stressed.
‘’Our facility will provide the space and services needed, enabling companies to digitalise their operations and improve efficiency,” Rufai added.
‘’The data centre will also enhance the delivery of content from major tech companies like Meta and Google, bringing content closer to Nigerian users and improving access speeds,’’ he said.
The local hosting of content, Rufai noted, would significantly boost user experience and network efficiency.
He also reiterate the critical need for expanded data processing capabilities driven by significant growth in data usage and the emergence of new services.
“We see a high demand in the market, with data usage growing significantly,” he stressed.
“And to cater to demand and prepare for future growth, MTN is expanding and modernising its data centre capacity,” the MTN official said.
He disclosed that the project was not just a technological investment but also a catalyst for economic growth.
The MTN official added that providing scalable and adaptable infrastructure would enable businesses, particularly Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to leverage cloud services and other digital solutions.
He stressed that this would, in turn, catalyse innovation, efficiency and competitiveness across various sectors of the economy.
He reiterated MTN’s readiness to partner with startups and MSMEs, offering numerous opportunities for collaboration, particularly in cloud services.
Rufai added that in line with MTN’s Ambition 2025 strategy, the data centre indicates the company’s commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals.
According to him, the facility would eventually utilise efficient cooling systems and a combination of traditional energy sources, gas and renewable energy.
The MTN official also stressed the importance of the energy measures, noting that it would significantly reduce its carbon footprint.
According to him, up to 60 per cent of the power consumption of a typical data centre in this clime was for cooling, noting that MTN’s highly efficient systems would ensure it meets the sustainability targets.
He added that as Nigeria’s digital landscape advanced, the new data centre marked a significant milestone.
Rufai said that it captured a continued drive for innovation, quality, and growth and fostered a connected, modern life aiming to provide improved services, economic benefits and a strong digital infrastructure for the future.
