At the Data Centres in Africa conference, the Africa Data Centres Association (ADCA) unveiled the results of its 2025 ADCA INSIDER SURVEY, providing a comprehensive snapshot of industry perceptions and future expectations across the continent.
Conducted with support from Rising Advisory and partner STELLARIX, the survey captures insights from industry leaders on economic trends, investment plans, innovation, ESG priorities, and human resources shaping Africa’s data centre sector.
The survey highlights a robust growth trajectory for Africa’s data centre industry, emphasising its role in digital sovereignty, regional integration, and economic development. Nearly 94% of respondents anticipate moderate to strong growth in the next year, with an average projected growth rate of 17.5%. This optimism is rooted primarily in the accelerating digitisation of African economies — covering cloud computing, AI, digital finance, and e-government — rather than solely emerging technologies.
“This survey underscores that data infrastructure has become a core pillar of economic development; it’s no longer peripheral but fundamental,” said Faith Waithaka, Chairwoman of ADCA.
While the sector is gaining maturity, it continues to face hurdles such as unreliable energy supply, financing constraints, and regulatory barriers. Nevertheless, over 80% of companies view the business climate as favourable, with 77.4% planning significant investments within the next year. The average profitability rating among respondents stands at 3.3 out of 5, signalling cautious optimism.
Paul-François Cattier, Managing Director of ADCA, emphasised the importance of building sustainable, collaborative models rooted in Africa’s local realities: “the sector is progressing, but needs to mature further to ensure resilience and shared growth.”
ESG considerations are gaining momentum, with participants rating their current ESG performance at 5.87 out of 10 — indicating steady but cautious progress. Energy efficiency is the primary focus, with 74.2% of respondents prioritising tangible gains in this area, far surpassing renewable energy initiatives (22.6%). This reflects an immediate drive toward operational sustainability.
Skills development is emerging as a critical challenge, with 61.3% of companies creating in-house training programs tailored to operational needs. Digital sovereignty is increasingly recognised as a strategic priority, driven by a desire among African stakeholders to retain control over their data and infrastructure. While the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) holds promise for regional integration, its impact on the data centre sector is still limited at this stage.
“We are laying the digital foundations for a continent aligned with its own priorities. We believe in a sovereign digital Africa, built on reliable, tailored technologies. Our commitment to ADCA underscores our dedication to this continental transformation,” said Didier Hung Wan Luk, CEO of STELLARIX.
The survey paints an optimistic picture of Africa’s data centre industry, emphasising its vital role in economic growth, regional integration, and digital sovereignty. While challenges remain — particularly around energy, talent, and regulation — the sector’s proactive focus on sustainability and local capacity-building signals a promising path toward a resilient, self-reliant digital future for Africa.
