ST Digital builds a green Tier III data center in record time in Côte d’Ivoire 🇨🇮 🖥️

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In just eight months, Ivorian telecom operator ST Digital has completed the construction of a Tier III data center inside the VITIB free zone (Village of Information Technology and Biotechnology).
A record timeline that, according to Steve Tchouaga, Managing Director of the Ivorian branch, represents “a world-class achievement.”

A fast, local, and sustainable build 🏗️

Covering 4,000 square meters, the new facility stands out for both its speed of execution and its eco-conscious design. Built to TIA 942 standards, the data center uses locally sourced materials and integrates energy-efficient solutions to minimize its environmental footprint.

“We chose to work with local companies that meet international standards,” explained Tchouaga, citing partners such as APL, Optim@, CaDT, AED, Hodi Côte d’Ivoire, and DTech.

The project also received backing from an African investment fund, showcasing that a regional ecosystem can fully design, build, and finance strategic digital infrastructure — without relying on outside players.

Strengthening digital sovereignty 🌐

For Anthony Same, founder and CEO of ST Digital Group, this new data center marks a critical step toward digital sovereignty in Côte d’Ivoire.

“It provides the country with a world-class infrastructure capable of hosting data and applications securely, while complying with local regulations,” he said.

The initiative aligns with the Ivorian government’s digital strategy, which seeks to reduce dependence on foreign cloud providers and secure critical national infrastructure.

A booming market 💡

Côte d’Ivoire now has around 20 data centers in operation or under construction — five of which are public facilities managed by the state and ANSUT, while the rest are owned by private operators such as MTN, Orange, VIPNET, MainOne, New Digital Africa, Raxio, and ST Digital.

This momentum highlights the rapid rise of cloud and edge computing across the country, boosting resilience and reducing risks of outages and cyberattacks.

Yet competition remains intense. U.S. giants like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud still control nearly 66% of the global cloud market, valued at $217 billion in 2022. Africa, with just 200 data centers (2% of the world’s total), is still catching up — but a 2024 Oxford Business Group report predicts 50% growth by 2026.

African expertise on display 🔋

With this project, ST Digital is proving that African tech expertise can build sustainable, high-performance, and sovereign infrastructure.

“What we’ve achieved in eight months shows that Africa can build its own cloud,” summarized Steve Tchouaga.

Further projects — including one in Gabon — are already in the pipeline, confirming a continental movement toward long-term digital autonomy.

👉🏾 Do you believe Africa can truly achieve digital sovereignty through its own data centers?