The expansion of CPT1 facility in Cape Town, backed by a $300 million loan from the DFC, doubles the current capacity of the data center.
Africa Data Centres, a division of Cassava Technologies, has announced the opening of a significant expansion at its CPT1 facility in Cape Town. This growth, supported by a loan of up to $300 million from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), adds 6 megawatts (MW) of IT load capacity, effectively doubling the current capacity of the data center.
The expansion includes the addition of three new state-of-the-art halls on the campus, with a total of 1000 racks of available space for customers. This expansion, incorporating two colocation halls and one hyperscale hall, is designed following a modular approach that allows for rapid scalability and a modern design adaptable to customer needs.
Growth driven by demand
Hardy Pemhiwa, President and CEO of Cassava, highlights that the expansion responds to the increasing demand for colocation capacity in South Africa. “Cape Town is not only the second-largest economy in South Africa but also the de facto technology and software hub in southern Africa,” Pemhiwa points out. The CPT1 facility is at the center of a rapidly growing data center market, with national and international cloud and IT service providers looking to expand their presence in the region.
Advanced technology and sustainability
The new space at CPT1 is equipped with hybrid cooling technology capable of handling both air and liquid cooling. Additionally, the data center stands out for its efficiency and sustainability, operating on renewable energy and without water consumption for IT infrastructure, resulting in a water usage effectiveness (WUE) of 0 and an outstanding power usage effectiveness (PUE) rating.
Finhai Munzara, acting CEO of Africa Data Centres, emphasizes that the deployment of portable solar power at CPT1 marks a milestone for Africa. “The introduction of portable solar power at the CPT1 facility offers significant benefits to our customers, providing a truly sustainable solution for data centers. In a continent where electricity supply is often intermittent, the need for reliable, cost-effective, and green energy has never been more critical,” Munzara asserts. This project, the first of its kind on the continent, is carried out through a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Distributed Power Africa.
Strategic location advantages
In addition to being home to the new data center, Cape Town hosts the Cape Town Internet Exchange (CINX), facilitating multi-regional pairing and efficient network management. The proximity to submarine cable landing stations and the ability to make direct connections between networks contribute to a faster and less latent online experience for users.
Future projections
Munzara concludes that the expansion of CPT1 not only increases data center capacity in South Africa but also forms part of Africa Data Centres’ investment plans to deploy several additional facilities across the continent. This growth underscores the company’s commitment to delivering high-quality and sustainable colocation solutions as demand for data continues to rise in Africa.
The expansion of Africa Data Centres in Cape Town is a testament to the ongoing advancement in IT infrastructure in Africa, highlighting the region’s ability to adapt and lead in the global technology arena.
Source: Africa DataCenters