Africa’s digital landscape is set for a significant boost as Raxio Group, a leading data centre company in Sub-Saharan Africa, has secured a substantial US$100 million investment from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank.
The US$100 million boost will enable Raxio to double its number of high-quality data centres within the next three years, meeting the increasing need for such facilities in many African countries. Raxio is currently developing a data centre network in countries including Ethiopia, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, and Angola.
The investment from the IFC adds to previous financial backing from other organisations like Proparco and the Emerging Africa Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF), as well as investments from Roha Group and Meridiam. The IFC’s funding also includes special support aimed at promoting equality and supporting development in poorer nations.
Raxio’s data centres use renewable energy where possible and employ energy-efficient technology to reduce the use of electricity and water for cooling.
For example, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Raxio’s facility in Kinshasa is designed to handle the growing demand for digital services in one of Africa’s largest cities. The company is also creating a central digital hub in Côte d’Ivoire, to serve French-speaking West Africa.
“Raxio’s business model shows how digital infrastructure can empower businesses, governments and communities to thrive in the digital economy,” said Sarvesh Suri, IFC Regional Industry Director, Infrastructure and Natural Resources in Africa.”
Robert Skjødt, CEO of Raxio Group, said: “It [the funding] will allow us to bring critical infrastructure to the regions that need it most and attract further investment as we continue to grow.”
