OADC launches Africa’s first large-scale open-access edge data centre environment

Africa’s edge data centre leader, Open Access Data Centres (OADC), today announced deployment of the continent’s first large-scale, open-access edge data centre environment, OADC Edge, in South Africa. This is the first step of a larger rollout of OADC Edge in Africa. Nigeria will follow suit later in the year.
By consolidating edge computing, edge data centres and hyperscale connectivity within a single ecosystem, OADC is establishing an edge environment that expedites the realisation of business opportunities for its clients…

Africa’s edge data centre leader, Open Access Data Centres (OADC), today announced deployment of the continent’s first large-scale, open-access edge data centre environment, OADC Edge, in South Africa. This is the first step of a larger rollout of OADC Edge in Africa. Nigeria will follow suit later in the year.

OADC consolidates edge computing, edge data centers, and hyperscale connectivity into a single ecosystem. This allows clients to realize business opportunities faster. 5G operators, ISPs, and fibre providers who want to expand their network reach into new markets need to be able to locate equipment at remote locations. Serving content locally reduces latency and provides an enhanced user experience. It is also crucial to the successful rollouts of new, time-critical apps. The ability to process large volumes before they are forwarded to larger, regional facilities improves efficiency while reducing backhaul cost.

OADC Chief Technical Officer Bob Wright (pictured below) explains: “In recent years, Africa has seen massive investment in hyperscale data centres focused on the continent’s largest metropolitan areas. But a single presence in a data centre is not enough to address a country. 5G operators, ISPs, and fibre operators are looking for cost-effective ways to expand their network reach into new markets. This requires that network equipment be securely stored in remote locations.

Wright continued: “At the same time, the growing desire to make content available and process ever-greater volumes of data closer to the customer is increasingly demanding implementation of a core-to-edge architecture, with meshed local and regional data centres fully connected into Africa’s network infrastructure across multiple countries and cities. OADC is building Africa’s edge data centre infrastructure to support clients seeking cost-effective network extension, and those who are changing their infrastructure deployment strategies to fulfil demand for content closer to the network edge – for improved availability and premium performance – or to optimise networking and storage costs by pre-processing data locally.”

Integral to OADC’s core-to-edge, open-access, edge data centre offering is the establishment of new, regional data centres covering major cities – initially across South Africa – and rollout of over 100, 0.5 MW OADC Edge data centres, in the largest deployment of open-access data centres on the continent.

South Africa’s 17 first OADC Edge data centre are already online. They offer colocation, rooftop accessibility and high-speed network interconnectivity. Sites are fully monitored by the 24/7/365 Network Operation Centre, (NOC), which provides clients with the security they require and the assurance they deserve. The rollout of key connectivity hubs continues, with new Tier-III regional OADC facilities, 2 to 3MW, coming online in Q3 2022, and more than 100 OADC Edge Data Centres expected to be available by the end 2022.

As Africa becomes increasingly digital, infrastructure investments are booming. Follow us on our live stream Submarine Networks EMEA event, where the Day 2 keynote session will focus on “Developing and growth areas in the EMEA and beyond”, featuring WIOCC’s CMO & VP International Business Development, Mike Last

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