Thanks to growing investments in Africa, server capacity is being increased; however, public infrastructure and education remain challenging areas.
According to a report by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, sub-Saharan Africa’s server capacity has increased by 25.8%.
Côte d’Ivoire is expected to see server revenue growth of 84.3% over the next five years. Additionally, stronger economies like South Africa are expanding their ecosystems through new initiatives and partnerships.
Countries such as Rwanda, Mauritius, and Senegal are benefiting significantly from these investments. If Senegal continues on this path, it is projected to enter the top ten countries for server revenue growth within the next five years.
While these developments have their positive aspects, a lack of adequate infrastructure could greatly increase the digital divide. Sub-Saharan African countries experience an average of 7.3 power outages per month.
If these infrastructure issues are resolved, it would mark a significant step forward for Africa’s development.
Countries like Nigeria are working to alleviate the strain on their energy systems and facilitate digital progress by locating data centers near solar energy facilities. In Kenya, Microsoft is establishing a $1 billion geothermal-powered data center.
There has also been noticeable growth in the size of developer communities in countries such as Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria. This growth can be attributed to advancements in software engineering.
However, Africa still struggles to provide sufficient opportunities for skilled individuals and organizations. Training programs are not expanding enough, causing talented individuals to turn to informal channels for education.
