Huawei Digital Power has partnered with the Cooperative Bank of Oromia (COOP), one of Ethiopia’s leading private banks, to deploy next-generation data centre solutions infused with artificial intelligence, aimed at improving the reliability, security, and sustainability of Ethiopia’s rapidly growing digital financial services.
As Africa accelerates its digital transformation under the African Union’s strategy for 2020-2030, Ethiopia is aligning with this vision by expanding its digital finance ecosystem. COOP’s “digital-first” approach has seen approximately 80% of its transactions now performed digitally, with over 3.6 trillion Ethiopian birr processed through mobile banking platforms, serving more than 15 million customers.
Faced with surging digital demand, COOP’s existing infrastructure was reaching its capacity limits, prompting an urgent need for a high-density, energy-efficient, and scalable data centre architecture. The bank required solutions that could support increased transaction volumes and customer growth without the high costs associated with physical expansion. Additionally, gaps in automation, disaster recovery, and cross-data centre resilience posed operational risks, especially in a landscape where infrastructure fragility could lead to extended downtime and service interruptions.
To meet these challenges, Huawei deployed AI-based smart power and modular data centre solutions. The core of this deployment is the FusionModule2000, an integrated modular unit that combines power, cooling, racks, cabling, and sensing in a compact form factor. This modular design allows for gradual expansion aligned with growth, optimizing capital expenditure by avoiding over- sizing. It also ensures continuous cooling during power outages through intelligent temperature alerts and provides power chain visualization for precise fault detection. Additionally, AI-driven data collection and analytics enable on-demand cooling, reducing energy consumption by 8-15%, while real-time monitoring and proactive maintenance help lower operational expenses.
Complementing this is the UPS5000-E, a high-efficiency modular uninterruptible power supply (UPS) that offers uninterrupted power protection. Its hot-swappable modules enable flexible maintenance and load management during operation, enhancing system availability and reducing both engineering and operational costs. These solutions collectively provide COOP with a resilient, secure, and scalable infrastructure capable of supporting Ethiopia’s digital economy ambitions.
The bank emphasized that a dependable, always-on infrastructure is crucial as its customer base and transaction volumes continue to grow. The deployment of Huawei’s intelligent, modular solutions strengthens COOP’s operational foundation, mitigating strategic risks associated with digital dependence while promoting energy efficiency and sustainability — aligning with national and continental goals for inclusive growth, digital transformation, and environmental responsibility. The upgraded infrastructure not only enhances customer confidence but also positions COOP to expand its digital services seamlessly, supporting Ethiopia’s broader vision for a sustainable, inclusive digital economy.
Looking ahead, Huawei Digital Power plans to deepen its collaboration across key sectors including finance, government, education, healthcare, and enterprise, aiming to co-develop innovative, secure, and energy-efficient infrastructure solutions that generate tangible benefits for citizens, institutions, and businesses across Africa.
