MTN Seeks US and European Partners for AI Data Centers in Africa

African telecom giant MTN is actively pursuing partnerships with US and European firms to develop AI-focused data centers across the continent. The initiative, spearheaded in Nigeria with a $240 million initial investment, aims to address Africa's lag in AI infrastructure while meeting rapidly growing demand for such services.

MTN CEO Ralph Mupita confirmed the company is in commercial negotiations to select partners capable of scaling what could become a continent-wide network. The first facility will provide computing power to governments and businesses, with excess capacity leased to other organizations. Potential collaborators include AI infrastructure specialists and hyperscalers like Microsoft.

This MOVE comes as Africa's young, fast-growing population creates unprecedented demand for digital services. The data centers could significantly boost the continent's technological capabilities, particularly in artificial intelligence applications where Africa currently trails global counterparts.