MTN Group, Africa’s largest telecom operator, is in advanced discussions with U.S. and European firms to build data centers across the continent to support artificial intelligence (AI) services.
CEO Ralph Mupita said the plan aims to address Africa’s shortage of AI infrastructure while creating new revenue streams for the company. MTN will fund part of the investment directly while working with co-investors, infrastructure specialists, and hyperscalers such as Microsoft.
“We are now in the commercial negotiation phase and shortlisting partners who can help us scale. Our goal is to conclude these partnerships within the year,” Mupita told Bloomberg.
The project will be housed under MTN’s Genova unit, which focuses on monetizing infrastructure and opening platforms to third parties. MTN intends to construct facilities, attract tenants needing AI computing power, and lease capacity to businesses and governments in its 16 African markets.
Reliable power supply remains a hurdle. Mupita said MTN is considering different energy options to ensure efficiency. In parallel, the group has already begun rolling out AI solutions across its operations. Recent deployments include network optimization in Nigeria, energy management in Benin, and fibre cut detection in Côte d’Ivoire.
MTN Nigeria also opened the Sifiso Dabengwa Data Centre in July, a nine-megawatt Tier III facility described as the largest of its kind in West Africa.
Africa currently accounts for less than 1% of global AI data center capacity despite its fast-growing population. South Africa leads the continent’s computing power, with hyperscalers like Microsoft, Amazon, and Alibaba already active. Other initiatives include Microsoft and G42’s geothermal-powered data center in Kenya and Airtel Africa’s expansion through Nxtra and a deal with Xtelify.
