Safaricom (NSE: SCOM) has entered into a strategic partnership with iXAfrica Data Centre, Kenya’s premier hyperscale-ready data centre operator, to deliver East Africa’s first AI-ready data centre services to enterprise and cloud solutions clients.
The partnership will allow businesses and government who are the end users to benefit from scalable, cost-effective solutions for data storage, backup, and computing resources that meet their needs as they grow. Additionally, enterprise customers who have adopted Artificial Intelligence will work with Safaricom to host their AI intensive workloads.
“As East Africa’s digital economy continues its rapid expansion, businesses increasingly require robust, scalable, and secure infrastructure solutions that can support the next wave of innovation, including AI workloads. Through this partnership with iXAfrica, we are enhancing our enterprise portfolio with premium data centre services that meet the highest global standards while supporting sustainable digital growth in the markets we serve in line with our vision to be Africa’s leading purpose-led technology company by 2030,” said Dr Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom PLC.
The partnership includes a collaborative go-to-market strategy, dedicated enterprise and cloud suites starting at 350kW with scalability to over 1MW, and integrated connectivity solutions that maximize both companies’ unique strengths to serve businesses across East Africa. The infrastructure is purpose-built to support the high-density computing, cooling, and resilience that modern AI workloads demand.
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“This collaboration represents a perfect synergy between technological excellence and market leadership,” said Guy Willner, Chairman of iXAfrica. “By combining our purpose-built, world-class AI-ready infrastructure with Safaricom’s unparalleled market presence and customer relationships, we’re creating a digital ecosystem that will accelerate innovation and growth across the region.”
With this partnership, enterprises can now run advanced workloads and AI right here in Kenya, ensuring data sovereignty, compliance, and speed. The end-to-end enterprise solution delivers an integrated infrastructure stack — from colocation(2U+) to connectivity, from cloud to managed services, cybersecurity, and business resilience — all under one contract and one trusted Safaricom brand.
The iXAfrica’s NBOX1 Nairobi Campus features a design capacity of 22.5MW, making it the largest data centre project in Greater East Africa. The facility serves a regional population of more than 300 million people and is strategically positioned along major fiber optic routes with access to resilient, low-carbon power sources.
For financial services, this unlocks AI for fraud prevention, credit risk modelling, and hyper-personalized services—all while maintaining data compliance. In manufacturing and retail, AI can now power supply chain optimisation, real-time IoT analytics, and demand forecasting—locally and securely.
With Safaricom serving over 49 million subscribers and pioneering innovations in mobile services, fintech, and enterprise connectivity, this partnership creates a powerful platform for businesses seeking to capitalize on East Africa’s digital transformation. The collaboration harnesses the unique advantages of Kenya’s digital landscape, including its strategic location and access to renewable energy sources that power over 90% of the country’s electricity grid.
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