• MTN and a UAE investment platform founded by Tarek Al Ashram have formed Africa Data Hub Holding to develop AI-ready data centres, initially in South Africa and Nigeria
  • MTN plans a phased 150MW build-out and says it is purchasing land and negotiating power agreements, but sites and construction dates remain undisclosed

The fact

MTN Group has formed Africa Data Hub Holding Limited with a UAE-based data-centre investment platform founded by Tarek Al Ashram. The new venture will develop AI-ready data centres across Africa, starting in South Africa and Nigeria.

MTN chief executive Ralph Mupita said the first phase is planned at 150MW. The facilities are expected to serve some of MTN's own computing needs as well as hyperscalers, enterprises and government customers. MTN says it is already buying land and discussing power supply, although it has not named the first sites, said how the 150MW will be split between the two countries or given a construction timetable.

Bayobab, MTN's connectivity business, is also a shareholder. It will provide open-access network connectivity and help connect the new facilities to customers across its pan-African network.

The Assessment

MTN already has customer relationships and network reach across Africa, which gives the new venture a ready route to market. The unanswered part is the build itself. A 150MW programme needs specific sites, secured electricity, permits and construction work before any of that capacity can be treated as deliverable.

South Africa and Nigeria have been named as the first markets, and MTN says land purchases and power talks are under way. It has not yet said where the first facilities will be, how the capacity will be divided or when construction will start. Bayobab can provide connectivity once the sites are ready, but the timetable will still depend on whether each project can secure power and move through local approvals. For BTW readers, the first site announcement and firm power agreement will be more informative than the 150MW headline. Those details will show whether the venture is beginning to turn into actual projects.

What to watch

Watch for the first sites in South Africa and Nigeria, including the MW assigned to each location and the utilities or power suppliers involved. Planning approvals, construction contracts and commissioning dates will show when the programme moves beyond land and power negotiations. Customer commitments, particularly from hyperscalers, would also clarify how much capacity is spoken for before the facilities open.