MTN Digital Infrastructure, a division of pan-African mobile network operator MTN, has announced a strategic partnership with a UAE-based data center investment platform founded by Tarek Al Ashram, Gulf Data Hub Chief Executive Officer. The partnership aims to accelerate the development of AI-ready digital infrastructure across the continent.
The venture will establish the jointly owned company Africa Data Hub Holding Limited, and is said to align with MTN’s Ambition 2030 strategy, which includes building AI data centers throughout Africa. The partnership will combine MTN’s continental footprint, market acumen, and infrastructure assets with the partner’s investment, development, and operating expertise in the data center sector.
“Africa’s digital economy is entering a new era, driven by rapid advances in artificial intelligence, cloud adoption and digital innovation. Realising this opportunity requires more than connectivity. It requires the infrastructure platforms that will power the next generation of digital services, businesses and innovation,” said Mazen Mroué, MTN Group Digital Infrastructure Chief Executive Officer.
“Over the past years, we have seen firsthand how the development of world-class data centre infrastructure can support the rapid growth of cloud, digital services and AI across the Middle East. Africa now presents a similarly compelling opportunity, driven by strong underlying demand, rapidly expanding digital economies and an increasing need for resilient and scalable infrastructure,” said Al Ashram.
MTN’s digital connectivity business, Bayobab, will be a shareholder and contributor in the partnership. Bayobab will provide open access connectivity and go-to-market support through its extensive pan-African network according to a press release.
The mobile network operator first disclosed the partnership earlier this week in its interim results for the six months to June 30, 2026. The company said it had already identified South Africa and Nigeria as priority markets for the initial phase of Africa Data Hub Holding’s deployment plans.
South Africa, MTN’s home base, is the largest data center market on the continent with a market size of US$ 670 million as of 2026, estimated to grow in value to US$ 1.44 billion by 2031, according to Mordor Intelligence. Aside from local players, international hyperscalers are also interested in building data centers in the country with Equinix currently planning two data centers in Cape Town.