U.S.-listed digital infrastructure firm Equinix plans to build additional data centers in Johannesburg and Cape Town, adding approximately 160 megawatts of capacity as global infrastructure firms position for Africa’s growing digital economy.
Equinix opened its first South African data center in Johannesburg in 2024 and has since acquired additional land in both cities. Sandile Dube, Equinix’s managing director for South Africa, said the company has secured about 327,000 square meters of land for future development and will fund the expansion entirely from its own balance sheet.
“All investments are funded by our own balance sheet, and our intention is to do so with all of our future investments in South Africa,” Dube said.
The expansion reflects growing appetite among global infrastructure firms for Africa’s digital economy, driven by AI adoption, fintech growth and increased internet usage. South Africa remains the continent’s dominant hub, accounting for roughly three-quarters of Africa’s total data center capacity. Major technology companies including Microsoft and Amazon have also invested heavily in cloud infrastructure in the country.
Africa currently has approximately 409 megawatts of operational data center capacity, representing less than 1% of the global total. Equinix’s planned addition will contribute to about 172 megawatts already under construction across the continent.
Dube said the presence of large cloud providers is helping drive demand and that investors are increasingly looking beyond South Africa to the broader African market. Industry estimates project South Africa’s data center market could grow from approximately $2.6 billion in 2025 to more than $5 billion by 2031.
Equinix already operates in parts of West Africa but has not yet entered East Africa. The company said future continental expansion will depend on the performance of its current investments.
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