Datacloud Africa

Driven by mass digitalisation and macro growth factors, the African cloud sector is poised for record expansion and hyperscalers are racing to meet demand. But how prepared are infrastructure companies, service providers and policymakers, and what form will hyperscale footprint take across the continent? 
 

• How are data and digital consumption trends shaping demand for cloud services and infrastructure? 

• What impact is aggressive expansion in the European and US markets having on capital allocation into Africa? 

• Ensuring access to clean and sustainable power to meet future demand for hyperscale-ready infrastructure

Africa’s datacentre market is evolving rapidly, facing the enormous challenge of bringing together long-term infrastructure development with the short-term dynamism of Africa. Hear from C-level leadership to explore what this shifting landscape means for datacentre expansion, consolidation and growth to shape Africa’s digital future.

• How has Africa’s datacentre industry changed in the last 12 months since Datacloud Africa 2024? 

• Where are the opportunities to grow service offerings beyond equipment hosting? 

• Regional variations in demand for data centre deployments and the move to spoke markets 

• Will we see an increase in M&A activity over the next 5 years?  

The global data centre industry is riding high on the global wave of hype and activity around the adoption of artificial intelligence. The US market has seen much of this action, with an emerging question of what role the rest of the world will play. This panel dives into this frenzy to understand what AI really means for Africa, how ready the continent is, and separating fact from fiction. 

• Understanding demand for AI services, key drivers and use-applications 

• Regional variations in AI-driven demand and implications for data centre expansion 

• How are data centres addressing power and cooling requirements for AI-heavy workloads? 

• How will future demand for AI services on the continent shape localisation of infrastructure? 

Whether driven by customer demand, investor expectations, operational costs or impending policy, building sustainable and efficient data centres has become critical to meeting the expectations of customers; both local and international. This panel explores the innovative strategies and solutions being implemented to ensure the next generation of African data centres meet required operational standards - and modernising those already built.

• Exploring modular datacentre design approaches to sustainably scale operations 

• What impact are reporting and ESG requirements having on real investment into alternative energy generation 

• How can AI-driven tools be utilised for energy efficiency, cooling systems and predictive maintenance?

A robust and diverse local internet ecosystem is vital for enhancing connectivity and driving economic growth. But many African markets still face the challenge of small internet ecosystems that struggle to grow on their own. What role do datacentres have to play in supporting interconnection, and support the growth of localised internet ecosystems? 

• How are datacentres supporting the growth of IXPs to localise interconnect and reduce costs? 

• Fostering collaboration between ISPs, CDNs and data centres 

• Strategies to promote local cloud solutions and encourage enterprise in the digital economy 

Ensuring access to reliable, cost effective and green power is essential to supporting the rollout of digital infrastructure across the African continent. Addressing this trilemma, ITW & Datacloud Africa hosts an afternoon of energy and ESG focused discussions, bringing together leaders and decision makers to discuss grid and policy challenges, managing growing load pressures, tackling ESG goals and exploring alternative solutions and new innovations. 

Opening presentation | The state of Africa’s grid infrastructure: Where will the power come from? 

Discussion 1 | Grid and policy challenges 

Discussion 2 | Managing future power growth forecasts

Discussion 3 | Tackling stakeholder carbon reduction targets 

Discussion 4 | Exploring best practice for renewable energy and efficiency solutions