Total Project Cost
Investment Required
Stakeholders
Countries
Project Overview
Description
Development of a Tier 3 certified carrier-neutral data center to host SADC Regional IXP, Root Server Instances, and cloud services infrastructure. Project advancing from enabling environment to definition phase with strong institutional support.
Objectives
Project Objectives: Centralize regional data infrastructure, Optimize internet access costs, Ensure service resilience, Reduce operational costs, Create cloud service ecosystem, Provide disaster recovery, Enable e-services, Support digital transformation, Enhance data sovereignty, Improve service delivery
Strategic Importance
Essential for regional digital infrastructure and service optimization
Technical Specifications
Technology & Design
Tier 3 Data Center Design: 99.982% uptime guarantee, Maximum 1.6 hours downtime annually, N+1 fault tolerant systems, 72-hour power protection
Capacity & Size
Tier 3 certification with regional IXP hosting and cloud services capability
Technical Details
Technical Requirements: Tier 3 certification standards, Advanced cooling systems, Redundant power supply, Security infrastructure, Network connectivity
Development, Implementation & Financial Details
Development Timeline
Project concept approved, Environmental assessment initiated, Technical specifications defined, advancing to definition phase
Latest Implementation Updates
UPDATED2025-05-04 — ITWeb: Digital Investment Facility (DIF) confirms comprehensive feasibility/market/regulatory study underway; investor discussions anticipated toward end-2025; Openserve signals support role for regional interconnection. [https://www.itweb.co.za/article/laying-the-groundwork-for-sadc-data-centre/O2rQGqAE814qd1ea]
2025-05-06 — Broadcast Media Africa: DIF reiterates full feasibility study in progress, with aims around data sovereignty, rural reach, and late-2025 investor engagements. [https://news.broadcastmediaafrica.com/2025/05/06/advancing-sadcs-digital-future-with-a-regional-data-centre-in-southern-africa/]
Financing Structure
Public-private partnership potential with strong institutional framework
Project Timeline
Development Timeline
Project concept approved, Environmental assessment initiated, Technical specifications defined, advancing to definition phase
Project Status History
Status 2020
Initial Assessment
Status 2022
Initial Assessment
Status 2024
Project Definition
Additional Project Details
Construction Timeline
Technical planning and environmental studies phase
Legal & Financial Advisors
Not Available
Market Analysis
Market Analysis
Growing demand for regional data services with institutional support
Market Demand
SADC region public and private entities
Key Stakeholders
Project Sponsor
SADC Secretariat
Key Parties
SADC Secretariat
Investors
Private sector through PPP opportunities
Contractors & Operators
Not Available
Risk Assessment
General Risk Assessment
Technical implementation complexity, Operational continuity requirements, Power supply reliability, Security management challenges
Regulatory Risks
Regional regulatory compliance and coordination across SADC member states
Impact Assessment
Environmental Impact
Environmental impact study initiated with appropriate mitigation measures
Social Impact
Regional economic benefits expected with improved digital services
Investment Opportunities
Private Sector Opportunities
Strong investment opportunities in data center operations and cloud services
Next Steps & Agreements
Next Steps
Complete project definition phase and advance to feasibility stage
Offtake Agreements
Not Available
Contact Information
Not Available
