NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) today announced the first disbursement of $83 million of its up to $300 million loan to Africa Data Centres, a key investment advancing the Biden Administration’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment. Africa Data Centres is Africa’s largest network of interconnected data facilities, which power, cool, secure and connect enterprises, cloud providers and hyperscalers. Highlighted by U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken during his visit to South Africa on August 8, 2022, DFC’s loan to Africa Data Centres is supporting the development, expansion, and operation of data centers in South Africa, Kenya and other DFC-eligible countries. The first disbursement primarily supports data center expansion in South Africa.

“DFC’s investment in Africa Data Centres helps expand critical information and communications technology infrastructure in South Africa, Kenya, and other countries in the region,” said DFC CEO Scott Nathan. “Building secure, trusted information technology networks will help enable development and economic growth throughout Africa.”

“Africa Data Centres is pleased to work with DFC to expand our facilities and network throughout Africa,” said Africa Data Centres CEO Tesh Durvasula. “This financing supports our efforts to build scaleable, efficient, resilient, secure and sustainable infrastructure that supports Africa’s adoption of world-class cloud services.”

Africa faces an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure deficit that impedes economic development throughout the continent. DFC’s financial support will advance U.S. government efforts in PGII and a new initiative for digital transformation in Africa. Africa Data Centres will continue to expand its secure data center facilities across Africa. This expansion is expected to unlock approximately 31.3 megawatts of IT load capacity in the next three years and create over 100 direct formal jobs.