Airtel Set to Deploy Region’s Biggest Data Centre in Kenya

Airtel has announced a revised launch date of July 2027 for its $150 million Nxtra data centre in Tatu City, Kenya. The facility will be East Africa’s largest yet, boasting a capacity roughly ten times greater than existing regional centres.

The project, which commenced groundworks in September 2025, represents a significant investment in the continent’s digital infrastructure. Located within Tatu City, the data centre benefits from dedicated power grid access and favorable tax policies.

Powering Digital Transformation

The Nxtra facility is designed with a 44-megawatt (MW) capacity, delivered across two phases of 22 MW each. This expansion aligns with Airtel’s broader strategy to strengthen its African footprint following a $1 billion investment in Nxtra last year.

This funding round valued Nxtra at $3.1 billion and will also support data centre expansions in Nigeria (Lagos), Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa), Uganda (Kampala) and Tanzania (Dar es Salaam).

Attracting Global Tech Leaders

The new data centre is already generating interest from major tech companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft and Oracle. These firms are seeking to host their services locally to reduce latency for East African users and improve customer experience.

“All the big players are talking to us about potential partnerships,” said Airtel Kenya Managing Director Djibril Tobe. “Hosting servers locally will allow them to mirror infrastructure closer to customers, resulting in faster streaming, improved cloud computing and more responsive AI applications.”

The Nxtra facility is expected to reshape digital infrastructure across East Africa, attracting foreign investment while supporting the growth of local tech ecosystems.