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Safaricom has teamed up with iXAfrica Data Centres to usher in a new era of enterprise computing in Kenya, launching the country’s first AI-ready data centre infrastructure—a significant leap toward positioning East Africa as a serious player in the global digital economy.
Powering the Future of AI and Cloud in Kenya
This strategic partnership enables enterprise and government clients to access high power density infrastructure built specifically for AI and other compute-intensive workloads. Think AI training models, real-time data analytics, edge computing, cloud services, disaster recovery, and scalable bandwidth—all hosted locally with world-class standards.
“This collaboration represents a major milestone in our mission to become Africa’s leading purpose-led tech company by 2030,” said Dr. Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom PLC. “Businesses need robust, secure, and scalable digital infrastructure to keep up with the AI revolution. Partnering with iXAfrica enables us to deliver exactly that—while also supporting sustainability and local innovation.”
Inside the Infrastructure: AI at Scale
At the heart of this transformation is iXAfrica’s NBOX1 Nairobi Campus, designed with a massive 22.5MW capacity, making it the largest data centre project in Greater East Africa. It’s engineered to handle today’s most demanding computing tasks with advanced cooling, energy efficiency, and redundant connectivity. Its location—intersecting key fiber routes and tapping into Kenya’s renewable energy grid—provides low-latency, high-reliability infrastructure with a light environmental footprint.
The offering includes:
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Dedicated enterprise and cloud suites starting at 350kW, scaling up to over 1MW
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Integrated connectivity and managed services through Safaricom’s enterprise network
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Colocation options (starting at 2U), hybrid cloud support, cybersecurity, and business continuity services
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AI compliance and data sovereignty support to meet local and international standards
For industries like financial services, this means faster fraud detection and smarter credit risk models. In manufacturing and retail, companies can now run localized AI workloads to drive IoT analytics, forecast demand, and streamline supply chains—without shipping data across borders.
A Unified Vision for a Digital Africa
According to Guy Willner, Chairman of iXAfrica, the partnership “represents a perfect synergy between technological excellence and market leadership.” By combining iXAfrica’s world-class infrastructure with Safaricom’s extensive market reach, the two companies are creating a new digital backbone for Kenya and the wider region.
This partnership isn’t just about speed or scale—it’s about enabling enterprise agility, innovation, and growth. Whether you’re a startup exploring generative AI or a bank scaling its digital transformation strategy, this AI-ready ecosystem provides the tools to execute bold ideas—locally and securely.
Why It Matters
With over 49 million Safaricom subscribers, deep expertise in fintech, enterprise connectivity, and mobile innovation, and now access to AI-ready infrastructure, Kenyan businesses are better positioned than ever to lead Africa’s digital future.
As AI reshapes every sector, local access to compliant, high-performance computing will become a necessity—not a luxury. And with this new chapter, Safaricom and iXAfrica are laying the groundwork for a tech-driven, inclusive, and intelligent East Africa.
