05 January 2026

The rapidly expanding demand for digital services across Africa is opening up new prospects for investment in the continent’s power infrastructure, according to NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber (AEC). In a recent commentary, Ayuk emphasized that despite the challenges of inconsistent electricity access in many African nations, mobile and internet usage are growing at extraordinary rates, fueling the need for reliable energy solutions.

The GSMA Mobile Economy Report 2023 forecasts that smartphone adoption in sub-Saharan Africa will increase from 51% in 2022 to 87% by 2030. Over the same period, data consumption per user is expected to nearly quadruple, placing additional pressure on energy resources. Ayuk pointed out that every smartphone and digital application contributes to increased computing loads, especially as energy-intensive technologies like artificial intelligence become more prevalent, further escalating energy demands.

30 December 2025

Ajay Kareer, Data Centre Market Manager, HARTING Ltd

The world’s data appetite is insatiable — and data centres are paying the electric bill. According to the International Data Corporation, global energy consumption per server is rising by around 9% each year. Servers might be shrinking in size, but their power needs are growing — and that’s a costly combination. With energy often making up more than half of a data centre’s operating expenses, every watt matters.