PAIX Data Centres, a provider of data center solutions across Africa, has entered into a strategic joint venture with the Fonds Souverain de Djibouti (FSD), which is Djibouti’s Sovereign Fund, to construct a Cloud- and carrier-neutral data centre in Djibouti.
According to a press release, PAIX will purchase the land, buildings and data center equipment. The facility will have about 50,000 square feet of net usable space and up to 5 megawatts of critical power. The first phase is expected to open in 2026. PAIX Data Centres is already operating in Accra Ghana, and Nairobi Kenya.
At present, as many as ten undersea cables connect to Djibouti, with a further three under construction, making it a suitable location for building data centers. However, the data center market here is relatively new.
Jean-Andre Gbarssin of the Djibouti Sovereign Fund said, “As the heart of Africa’s digital economy, Djibouti plays a strategic role in facilitating connectivity between Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, PAIX Djibouti will serve as a catalyst for digital inclusion and economic development, empowering businesses to unlock new opportunities and realize their full potential in the digital age.”
“PAIX’s investment in JIB1 positions it at the crossroads of connectivity between Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia” said PAIX CEO Wouter van Hulten. “The strong network hub that is created by the aggregation of multiple undersea cable landing points connecting to terrestrial cables makes Djibouti a highly attractive gateway.”
The joint venture aims to bring together industry expertise and local knowledge to deliver data center services tailored to the unique needs of Djibouti and the broader East African region. The new facility will serve as a strategic interconnection hub for internet service providers (ISPs), Cloud providers, financial institutions, and enterprises seeking reliable and scalable infrastructure to support their digital initiatives.
PAIX Djibouti says that it will offer advanced cooling systems, redundant power sources, and robust security measures, to ensure optimal performance and reliability for mission-critical applications and services.