Airtel has begun construction on a 44MW Nxtra data center campus at Tatu City Special Economic Zone outside Nairobi, Kenya, marking one of the largest digital infrastructure projects in East Africa. The facility, designed for phased deployment, will host high-density, GPU-ready racks and new generations of servers with 99.999% uptime, redundant fiber connectivity, and advanced security. The campus positions Airtel’s Nxtra brand at the center of the region’s fast-growing cloud and AI ecosystem.
Tatu City, developed by Rendeavour, has invested heavily in power and connectivity infrastructure to establish itself as East Africa’s data center hub. The site operates on more than 95% renewable energy, one-third of which comes from on-site solar, complemented by Kenya’s largely renewable national grid. Utilities include a 135MVA power substation with 99.7% uptime, continuous water supply, stormwater management, international-standard roads, and 120km of underground fiber. Companies operating at Tatu City benefit from SEZ incentives such as reduced corporate tax rates, VAT zero-rating, and import duty exemptions.
Executives from Airtel, Rendeavour, and the Kenyan government attended the groundbreaking ceremony. Stephen Jennings, Founder and CEO of Rendeavour, said: “Airtel’s decision to locate Nxtra here is a powerful endorsement of this vision. Together, we are building the secure, scalable, and sustainable digital backbone that Africa needs for its economic transformation.” Yashnath Issur, CEO of Data Centre, Airtel Africa, added: “By building the largest data centre in East Africa, we are laying the groundwork for a thriving digital ecosystem that empowers businesses, supports governments, and unlocks new opportunities for communities across the region.”
• Airtel’s Nxtra campus will provide 44MW of IT load capacity in phases.
• Tatu City delivers 95% renewable energy, including one-third from on-site solar.
• Infrastructure includes 135MVA substation, 24/7 water supply, and 120km of underground fiber.
• More than 100 companies and 25,000 residents already operate within Tatu City.
• SEZ incentives include a 10% corporate tax rate for the first 10 years, then 15% for the next decade.
🌐 Analysis: Airtel’s Nxtra entry into East Africa comes amid accelerating demand for AI-ready data center capacity across the continent. Kenya’s renewable-heavy energy mix gives this project a sustainability edge over other regional hubs, such as Johannesburg or Lagos. Hyperscalers and regional operators are expected to follow Airtel’s move, leveraging Kenya’s SEZ framework and green energy credentials to expand their African cloud presence.
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