27 November 2025

Canninah Dladla, Cluster President for English-speaking Africa at Schneider Electric

Benjamin Franklin famously said: "An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest”. This could not be more applicable when it comes to the collection and utilisation of data. And at the heart of this knowledge and resultant information lies the data centre.

Today, most organisations depend on data centres in some capacity, with critical services like healthcare relying on them even more heavily. For example, many hospitals operate with vital electronic health records (EHR) running in the background—information that resides on and is backed up by data centres.

26 November 2025

Leon Kleyn, WSP in Africa

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more deeply embedded in how organisations operate, the infrastructure behind these digital tools is undergoing a profound shift. Data centre capacity to power AI processes must increase, and rapidly, by expanding and upgrading existing facilities or building new data centres. The African data centre market is growing quickly: research places current estimated market value at USD 1.94 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 3.85 billion by 2030.

21 November 2025

Johan Nieuwenhuizen, Sales Director and Co-CEO, Adroit Technologies

As global industries accelerate their digital transformation journeys, the convergence of operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) has become the defining challenge and opportunity of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Across sectors such as manufacturing, energy, water, and mining, organisations are racing to modernise legacy systems, unlock real-time operational data, and leverage cloud and AI-driven analytics, all while maintaining the highest levels of cybersecurity and regulatory compliance.

14 November 2025

Tom Koster, Senior Vice President, Laser Light Communications

Why are micro data centres considered the optimal solution for improving connectivity in underserved regions and routes?
This question is all about the “last mile” problem, but on a continental scale. We can talk about how traditional data centres, with their massive power and real estate needs, are like trying to build a five-star hotel in the middle of a desert. They can’t effectively serve the vast, sparsely populated areas that are so critical for true economic development.

14 November 2025

Dr Thomas Verghese, Business Development Manager; and Wouter Vink, Director of Sales, Africa, EnerSys

Selecting the right batteries for Africa’s data centres involves understanding application-specific needs, local energy infrastructure, and sustainability considerations.

Lead acid batteries, especially advanced TPPL technology, remain popular due to their safety, reliability, and familiarity within the region. Power outages and unreliable grids, notably in South Africa, make dependable backup solutions essential to avoid costly downtime. Effective system management — proper specification, installation, and maintenance — plays a key role in maximising battery performance and lifespan. Reliability takes precedence over lifespan, as data centres require unwavering assurance that batteries will perform during outages.