Orange Sierra Leone has officially inaugurated a new data centre in the southern city of Bo, marking a significant milestone in the country’s digital infrastructure development.
The €23 million facility mirrors the company’s main data centre in Freetown and is designed to serve as a vital disaster recovery site, ensuring continuity of digital services amid emergencies, outages, or natural disasters.
Located strategically in the south, the new data centre aims to extend digital infrastructure reach into rural and regional communities, particularly along the southern and eastern corridors towards Makeni, Kono, and Kenema. By improving the distribution of network traffic and connectivity in underserved areas, the facility is expected to enhance overall service resilience and accessibility across the country.
The launch of this backup infrastructure comes at a time when Freetown remains vulnerable to natural hazards such as landslides and flooding, which have previously disrupted services, including a major incident in 2017. The new data centre underscores the government’s and Orange Sierra Leone’s commitment to safeguarding essential digital services and supporting the country’s ongoing digital transformation.
Salima Bah, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Communications, Technology, and Innovation, highlighted the importance of resilient connectivity, especially after a brief service interruption in August 2024. She emphasized that the internet has become indispensable for daily life and that both government and private sector investments are crucial to prevent future disruptions.
In addition to the new facility, Orange Sierra Leone operates 616 telecom sites nationwide, with 40 recent additions. Impressively, 70% of these sites are powered by renewable energy sources, reflecting the company’s commitment to sustainability. The operator has also invested US$50 million in upgrading its network infrastructure, which now supports both 4G and 5G services, further enhancing service quality and capacity.
Industry analysts from GSMA note that these ongoing improvements position Orange Sierra Leone with a competitive edge, as high-quality service delivery is key to unlocking new opportunities for individuals and communities. As of December 2024, the company reported 3.04 million mobile subscribers, capturing a 51% market share in a competitive landscape that includes Africell and QCell. The new data centre is expected to bolster Orange Sierra Leone’s efforts to provide reliable, nationwide connectivity and foster digital growth across the country.
