iColo opens MPM1 data centre in Maputo

iColo: A Digital Realty Company, Kenya’s first carrier-neutral data center provider, has opened its first data center in Maputo, Mozambique (“MPM1”). The establishment of this new data center on Africa’s southeast coast expands the company’s footprint and complements its strategy to provide world-class colocation facilities that support the growing connectivity needs along the eastern coast of Africa, driven by the growth of subsea cables.

After successfully developing and operating the Mombasa and Nairobi campuses in Kenya, iColo is expanding into the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. The 9500 square meter campus is located in the heart of Maputo on Avenida Lenine. MPM1 provides approximately 350 square meters of net rentable space, enough capacity to host approximately 80 racks in the first phase of development, and is designed to accommodate further upgrades based on customer demand.

“We are committed to enhancing internet connectivity in Mozambique by establishing this new facility, especially with the advent of new high-capacity cable systems landing along the coast of Mozambique. We are very excited about the growth potential of this market,” says Ranjith Cherickel, CEO at iColo.

Mozambique, a country with 32 million people, is currently connected to two subsea cables with a third cable system, the high capacity 2Africa cable, landing in Mozambique in February 2023.  The cable, the largest subsea fiber-optic cable system ever, nearly circumnavigates Africa and connects to multiple interconnection points in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The 2Africa cable is expected to greatly enhance the connectivity in Mozambique and support growth of the local economy.

iColo’s Maputo facility – designed as a digital hub – will be the local landing point for critical equipment for the 2Africa cable system. The enhanced connectivity is expected to improve cloud and content accessibility, increase digitization, improve the online experience for local businesses and consumers, while helping to build a broad and more inclusive digital society across the world through Digital Realty’s global data center platform, PlatformDIGITAL®.

“This new data center is a significant milestone in the development of the internet in Mozambique, bringing high-quality, reliable colocation solutions with a longstanding record of operational excellence. This highly connected campus will provide a bedrock for strong data growth in the country and on the entire African continent,” says Jose Almeida, General Manager, iColo Mozambique.