Safaricom has entered a strategic partnership with iXAfrica Data Centres to introduce what they term as East Africa’s first AI-ready data infrastructure, marking a critical milestone in Kenya’s journey toward becoming a digital and innovation hub. This collaboration is designed to deliver scalable, secure, and high-performance infrastructure to support AI computing, cloud services, edge computing, and more.
The new infrastructure, anchored at iXAfrica’s NBO1 Nairobi Campus, will serve a regional population of over 300 million and provide advanced computing solutions for businesses, government institutions, and developers across East Africa.
What Does “AI-Ready” Infrastructure Mean?
The term “AI-ready” in this context refers to a data centre built to support:
- High power density for energy-intensive AI workloads
- Scalable bandwidth to handle massive data transfers
- Resilient cooling systems required for sustained machine learning operations
- Edge computing capabilities for real-time data processing
- Secure environments for regulated sectors like finance and health
This means enterprises in Kenya can now train, deploy, and run AI models locally, with the full confidence of data sovereignty, compliance, and speed.
Integrated Enterprise and Cloud Solutions
The Safaricom-iXAfrica partnership includes:
- Dedicated enterprise and cloud suites starting at 350kW, scalable to over 1MW
- End-to-end services under one contract: colocation, connectivity, cloud, managed services, cybersecurity, and disaster recovery
- A collaborative go-to-market strategy that leverages both Safaricom’s extensive customer network and iXAfrica’s infrastructure expertise
These integrated services are ideal for:
- AI model training and deployment
- Real-time IoT analytics for manufacturing and logistics
- Credit risk modeling and fraud prevention in finance
- Supply chain optimization in retail
Why This Partnership Matters
This partnership is not just about infrastructure – it represents a paradigm shift in how African enterprises can access and scale next-generation technologies. Businesses will no longer need to depend on overseas data centres to access compute-intensive workloads. Instead, they will benefit from:
- Data localization for compliance with Kenya’s data protection laws
- Reduced latency for AI and cloud applications
- Lower costs associated with international data transfers
- Increased reliability and uptime for mission-critical applications
Guy Willner, Chairman of iXAfrica, said the collaboration “creates a digital ecosystem that will accelerate innovation and growth across the region.” Safaricom CEO Dr. Peter Ndegwa added that it aligns with Safaricom’s vision to become “Africa’s leading purpose-led technology company by 2030.”
A Boost for Kenya’s Position as a Tech Hub
With more than 49 million subscribers and leadership in mobile services and fintech through M-PESA, Safaricom’s involvement gives the project scale and trust. The country’s access to resilient, low-carbon electricity – over 90% of Kenya’s grid is powered by renewables – adds to its appeal for sustainable tech infrastructure.
The iXAfrica campus, with a design capacity of 22.5MW, is currently the largest data centre project in Greater East Africa. It is strategically positioned along major fibre optic routes, ensuring maximum connectivity.
Implications for Key Industries
- Financial Services: AI can now be deployed for advanced fraud detection, customer segmentation, and predictive analytics while ensuring data stays within Kenyan borders.
- Manufacturing: Local real-time processing will support IoT-driven automation, machine monitoring, and predictive maintenance.
- Retail and E-commerce: The infrastructure can handle demand forecasting, AI personalization, and supply chain AI models—all without routing data offshore.
- Public Sector and Healthcare: With Kenya aiming to digitize public services, this infrastructure provides the secure backbone needed for health records, smart city platforms, and emergency services.
Final Thoughts
This partnership between Safaricom and iXAfrica could not be more timely. With AI becoming central to every digital strategy, Kenya now has a competitive edge in hosting, developing, and scaling AI workloads domestically. This announcement sends a strong signal that Africa is ready—not just to consume AI but to build and power it too.
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