Africa’s largest telecom operator, MTN Group, is in advanced talks with US and European technology companies to establish a network of data centers across the continent to power artificial intelligence (AI) services.
The initiative forms part of MTN’s wider strategy to close Africa’s AI infrastructure gap while creating new revenue streams. According to the company, it will directly finance part of the project while working with international partners, including co-investors, AI infrastructure firms, and hyperscalers such as Microsoft. The plan is to construct modern facilities, lease space to tenants requiring AI computing capacity, and offer access to businesses and governments in need of digital solutions.
MTN explained that its AI data center unit, Genova, will anchor the project, serving as the engine for monetising infrastructure, opening platforms to third parties, and driving growth beyond traditional telecom services. The company is now in commercial negotiations with potential partners and expects to finalise agreements within the year.
The group noted that partners would likely follow it into the 16 African markets where it already operates, focusing particularly on countries with rising demand for AI services. However, a significant challenge remains energy reliability. MTN acknowledged that securing efficient and sustainable power sources will be crucial for ensuring the stability of these facilities, especially in markets with fragile electricity infrastructure.
Under the Genova strategy, MTN has already begun deploying AI solutions internally to transform its operations. In Nigeria, AI is being used to optimise network traffic and enhance service delivery. In South Africa, the technology is helping manage fuel consumption for data centers, while in Benin it is driving dynamic energy management, and in Côte d’Ivoire it is being applied to fibre cut sensing. MTN Nigeria has also strengthened its infrastructure by launching a nine-megawatt Tier III data center in July, which it described as one of the largest in Africa, rivaling global providers such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google.
Despite these moves, Africa remains far behind other regions in AI infrastructure. The continent currently hosts less than one percent of global AI data center capacity, with South Africa accounting for the majority of existing computing power. Global tech firms such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Alibaba have built a presence in African cloud services, but large gaps remain in capacity and access.
Momentum, however, is building. Microsoft and Abu Dhabi-based G42 recently announced a geothermal-powered data center in Kenya, while Airtel Africa has also entered the race. Through its partnership with Nxtra and Indian billionaire Sunil Mittal, Airtel is planning an AI infrastructure push in Nigeria. Last month, Airtel Africa signed a multi-year agreement with Xtelify to deploy advanced AI-powered platforms across its 14 markets, designed to streamline operations and improve customer experience.
Industry experts argue that expanding Africa’s AI backbone will be pivotal not only for large corporations but also for small and medium-sized enterprises. Access to affordable computing power can unlock opportunities in digital services, agriculture, healthcare, and financial inclusion. With the continent’s young population driving adoption of digital tools, the push by MTN and other telecom operators could shape Africa’s place in the global AI economy.
As negotiations progress, MTN says its goal is to build facilities that go beyond telecom services and create an ecosystem where businesses of all sizes—from startups to governments can access the computing resources needed to innovate, compete, and scale in a rapidly changing digital world.
