Driven by rapid digital transformation, Africa is seeing its demand for data explode, with an estimated annual growth of nearly 40%. This expansion is leading to a growing need for cloud infrastructure and digital solutions capable of supporting the uses of businesses and citizens.

Cloud service provider Unicloud Africa Limited announced on Monday, October 27, the launch and availability of its sovereign cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure in six countries: Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Zambia, Senegal, and Mozambique. This project aims to strengthen the continent’s digital sovereignty and offer public and private sector stakeholders a local alternative to international cloud giants.

“For too long, African businesses have been held back by the financial burden and compliance risks of offshore cloud platforms. This is a strategic shift. Unicloud Africa provides a foundation for Africa’s digital and financial independence,” said Ladi Okuneye, CEO of Unicloud Africa.

The infrastructure rests on three pillars: cost control, sovereignty, and performance. It features local currency billing and eliminates data egress fees to ensure greater financial predictability. Sensitive data is hosted and processed locally, in compliance with regulatory requirements for finance, healthcare, and public administration. The platform guarantees 99.999% availability and complies with the international standards ISO 27001 and ISO 22301. It also includes a GPU-as-a-Service offering to support the deployment of artificial intelligence projects across the continent.

The project is part of Unicloud Africa’s “One Cloud, One Africa” ​​strategy. It relies on a partnership with TouchNet, a recognized technology player on the continent, to guarantee a robust and scalable technical foundation.

This launch comes at a very favorable time in Africa, but one still marked by significant disparities. The continent still represents only a marginal fraction of global data center capacity; it is estimated that Africa hosts less than 2% of the world’s data center capacity, even though mobile data demand is increasing by nearly 40% or more annually. A report by Heirs Technologies published on September 1, 2025, indicates that there are approximately 211 active data centers in Africa, 46% of which are concentrated in four countries: South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Egypt.

For the countries involved, this infrastructure could reduce cloud service costs, improve data sovereignty, and stimulate local innovation. On a continental scale, it marks a step towards a more autonomous digital ecosystem, capable of supporting the development of artificial intelligence and Big Data “made in Africa.”

Source: Agence Ecofin