MTN Group Plans AI Data Centers Across Africa

MTN Group is in talks with US and European companies to establish AI data centers across Africa. This initiative aims to address the continent's significant infrastructure gap, as Africa currently holds less than 1% of global AI data center capacity.

The Johannesburg-based company plans to directly fund part of the investment required for this expansion and is in the process of shortlisting potential global partners. These partners may include co-investors, AI infrastructure specialists, and large-scale computing providers known as hyperscalers.

MTN has already commenced construction of its first AI data center in Nigeria, with an estimated cost of $240 million. The company's AI data center business unit, Genova, will spearhead this initiative as part of MTN's strategy to monetize infrastructure and open its platforms to third parties.

The group is also exploring options to ensure a reliable power supply for these data centers, particularly in regions where electricity infrastructure is limited. MTN aims to finalize these partnerships within the year to scale its AI data center operations across its 16 African markets.