Grace Ashiru
Africa Data Centres has announced the expansion of its CPT1 facility in Cape Town. According to a press release, the company is adding three new state-of-the-art halls in new areas on the campus, effectively doubling its current capacity with an additional 6MW of IT load. This expansion was supported by a loan of up to $300 million from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to Africa Data Centres.
Hardy Pemhiwa, President & Group CEO of Cassava, commented on the development, stating, “This expansion by Africa Data Centres is in response to the increasing demand for co-location capacity in South Africa. Not only is Cape Town the second-largest economy in South Africa, but it is also the de facto software and technology hub in Southern Africa.”
The company is experiencing significant growth in the data centre market across South Africa, driven by the increasing demand from both national and international cloud and IT service providers looking to expand their presence in the region.
The expansion includes an additional 1000 racks of white space, which refers to the space available for customers to lease. While the physical site itself is much larger, it comprises two more colocation data halls and one hyperscale hall.
These new halls are constructed using the innovative modular design developed by Africa Data Centres. This approach allows for rapid scalability and features a modern design that can be populated as needed to meet the specific requirements of customers.
Pemhiwa expressed that none of this would have been possible without the backing of the Ministry of ICT, the Western Cape Provincial Government, and the Western Cape Department of Economic Development. “I would like to acknowledge their ongoing support as we expand our data centre facilities in South Africa,” he said.
The new halls uphold the same advanced security standards and emphasize the elements that matter most to clients, such as scalability, flexibility, and energy efficiency. These features ensure the delivery of world-class, affordable solutions to all clients in the area. This data centre is designed to be highly adaptable, capable of meeting diverse and evolving customer demands.
This data center features advanced hybrid cooling technology, seamlessly integrating both air and liquid cooling systems. Its versatility does not come at the cost of efficiency. In fact, it stands as one of the most efficient and sustainable data centers ever constructed in South Africa. Powered entirely by renewable energy, it boasts a Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) of zero, as the IT infrastructure consumes no water. Additionally, it holds an impressive Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) rating, underscoring its commitment to sustainability and efficiency.
Africa Data Centres’ CPT1 facility leads the market with its innovative use of wheeled solar power. This advancement is made possible by a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) signed in March of last year with Distributed Power Africa, a member of the Cassava Technologies group. Africa Data Centres stands as the first company to implement this groundbreaking technology in Africa, establishing the continent’s first project of its kind.
“The introduction of wheeled solar power at the CPT1 facility provides substantial benefits to our customers, offering a truly sustainable data centre solution. With the demand for data soaring across Africa—a continent where power supply is often inconsistent—the need for reliable, cost-effective, and green power has never been more urgent,” stated Finhai Munzara, Interim CEO of Africa Data Centres.
By leveraging renewable energy, the CPT1 facility not only guarantees a consistent power supply but also promotes sustainable operations, aiding customers in reaching their environmental objectives. “Our cutting-edge facility minimizes dependence on non-renewable energy sources, establishing a new benchmark for sustainability in the data centre industry.”
Munzara further notes that Cape Town is an ideal location for colocation facilities, being in close proximity to all the submarine cable landing stations. Additionally, the Cape Town facility hosts the Cape Town Internet Exchange (CINX), making multi-region peering more accessible, efficient, and manageable. This setup also enables direct network connections, allowing data to flow more efficiently and reducing latency, thereby providing our users with a faster, more responsive online experience.
Munzara concludes by stating that the expansion enhances the capacity of the company’s data centers in South Africa. He emphasizes that this move is a crucial element of their investment strategy, aimed at establishing numerous additional data facilities across the continent.
