This brings an end to a period that saw commendable growth in the company’s West African operations.

In a personal statement shared on LinkedIn, the Regional Executive for West Africa confirmed he would be leaving the business, shedding light on what he described as a defining chapter in his career and the company’s development across the region.

“After 5+ incredible years, it’s time for me to sign off from Africa Data Centres (ADC).

What started as a bold experiment-stepping into a new market as a challenger-has evolved into a definitive chapter of growth, resilience, and success.

We didn’t just build data centres; we built the infrastructure for the future.

The journey was far from linear. It was defined by:

The Steep Curves: Navigating the complexities of a new market and turning challenges into competitive advantages.

The Milestones: Moving from our first rack to becoming a well-established, trusted partner in the colocation space.

The Culture: Building an organisation from the ground up that prioritises both operational excellence and a bit of fun along the way.

To my team and colleagues: You are the heartbeat of this success. Thank you for the late nights, the strategic breakthroughs, and the countless cups of coffee that fueled our progress. I am immensely proud of the “well-established” powerhouse we’ve become.

I’m walking away with great memories and a sharp focus on what’s next.

To my network: Stay tuned-I’m excited to share my next chapter with you soon.”

Dr Krish served most recently as Regional Executive for West Africa, a role he assumed in September 2022 after previously working as Chief Technology Officer at the company.

During his tenure, ADC expanded its regional and edge data centre footprint, becoming a key infrastructure provider that supports cloud adoption and local data hosting across several African markets.

Africa Data Centres, part of Cassava Technologies, operates one of the continent’s largest networks of carrier- and cloud-neutral data centre facilities. The company has been important in supporting digital transformation efforts, particularly as businesses shift workloads to the cloud and governments push for stronger data localisation.

Demand for data centres across Africa is increasing fast, driven by fintech growth, increasing internet usage and tough regulatory expectations around where data is stored.

In Nigeria especially, Dr Krish consistently argued that local data infrastructure is critical for digital sovereignty, improved security and long-term economic value.

Before joining ADC, he held senior leadership roles across Nigeria’s connectivity and data infrastructure sector, including positions at Medallion Communications Limited and Century Data Integrated Services Ltd. His career spans more than three decades across data centres, cloud services, connectivity and managed IT operations.

His exit comes at a time of strong competition in Africa’s digital infrastructure space, as global hyperscale cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft and Google strengthen their presence on the continent, increasing pressure on regional operators to scale quickly and maintain local relevance.

ADC has not yet announced a successor or provided details on leadership changes following his departure.

This isn’t just about racks and cables—it’s about reshaping how South African businesses connect, grow, and innovate.

At the heart of this evolution is a powerful new partnership: Africa Data Centres (ADC), the continent’s largest network of interconnected data hubs, has joined forces with Blue Turtle, one of South Africa’s most respected enterprise IT providers.

Together, they’re laying the groundwork for the next phase of the country’s digital infrastructure revolution.

From On-Premises to Always-On

For years, South Africa’s enterprise sector has wrestled with a challenge: outdated on-premises servers that can’t keep up with modern demands. Rising security risks. Growing data regulations. And the need to scale—fast.

Now, thanks to this partnership, that picture is changing. Blue Turtle will be deploying racks within Africa Data Centres’ Cape Town and Midrand facilities, giving enterprise clients access to secure, compliant, high-performance colocation and private cloud services.

“We’re not just relocating infrastructure—we’re helping clients reimagine it,” says Jan Hitge, Head of Managed Services at Blue Turtle.

A Launchpad for South Africa’s Cloud-First Future

This collaboration is more than a technical upgrade. It’s a strategic step toward data sovereignty, regulatory alignment, and cloud-first digital transformation. For businesses navigating South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), the move promises peace of mind and performance at scale.

And as demand for AI-ready, edge-enabled, and low-latency infrastructure climbs, the alliance between Blue Turtle and Africa Data Centres offers more than connectivity—it offers resilience.

“This isn’t just about filling racks,” says Adil El Youssefi, CEO of Africa Data Centres. “It’s about empowering African enterprises with the infrastructure to innovate and lead.”

More Than a Deal — A Digital Movement

This partnership is also a signal. A signal that Africa’s tech ecosystem is maturing, and that South Africa is fast cementing its status as a digital powerhouse.

With Blue Turtle’s trusted client base and Africa Data Centres’ robust, vendor-neutral platform, the stage is set for a wave of secure, sustainable, and scalable enterprise transformation.

The digital horizon is no longer coming. It’s here. And it’s powered by partnerships like this.

Want to learn more about this milestone partnership?
Visit Africa Data Centres

According to Muhammed Rudman, IXPN’s CEO, the forum provides a valuable platform for collaboration, interaction, and sharing IXPN milestones with its members.

He emphasized the organization’s dedication to building a stronger internet exchange ecosystem and advancing Nigeria’s digital landscape through efficient interconnectivity, robust collaborations, and the seamless exchange of ideas.

“IXPN plays a pivotal role in ensuring fast, reliable, and secure internet exchange services for organizations across the country. Thus, this forum offers an important opportunity to engage with our valued customers, address challenges, celebrate our successes, and envision a brighter digital future for Nigeria,” said Rudman.”

Highlighting key milestones achieved in 2024, Rudman noted IXPN’s recognition as a MANRS-compliant Internet Exchange Point, demonstrating its commitment to secure and reliable Internet routing.

He also cited multiple link upgrades between key Points of Presence (PoPs), including Digital Realty (Medallion) to Equinix (MDXi), Rack Centre, and ADC, significantly increasing capacity.

Another key achievement was the deployment of Microsoft Connected Cache to reduce latency and optimize bandwidth utilization for Microsoft static content.

Looking ahead to 2025, IXPN ‘s planned projects and initiatives include establishing additional exchange points in other states, attracting more content providers to the country, setting up CDNs and caches in regional IXPN PoPs, offering VLAN services within Lagos and supporting remote peering, and upgrading core devices and main links.

IXPN’s core functions include keeping Nigerian internet traffic local, reducing costs associated with accessing local content, enhancing local connectivity, improving the overall internet experience, promoting local content creation, and serving as a centralized launch point for services.

As of today, the organization currently boasts 125 members, seven PoPs in Lagos (ICNL, Medallion, Rack Centre, MDXi, ADC, OADC & Cloud Exchange), and additional PoPs in six other cities: Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu, Delta, and Gombe.

IXPN also manages a peak aggregate traffic of 900 Gbps.

Ugwuanyi explained the importance of understanding Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) to appreciate the role that these infrastructures play in the tech space.

He stated: “Before we look at the role of IXPN to the ecosystem, I think it’s prudent for us to very briefly look at what an Internet Exchange Point is. Let’s imagine a region, say Lagos, and in this particular region, there’s just one service provider.”

This background, he explained, is essential for understanding the nuances of network communications.

The Function of IXPs in the DNS Industry

Still speaking at the Tech Convergence 1.0, Ugwuanyi delved into the technical details of how IXPs work, noting how they impact the efficiency of DNS operations.

The Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, for example, connects over 128 networks, and its average traffic reaches over 800 Gbps. 

IXPN operates in all major data centres across Nigeria, including ICNL, Digital Realty, Rack Centre, MDXi, Cloud Exchange, ADC, and OADC. Added to this, IXPN has points of presence in Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, Enugu, and Delta.

“The Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, before we delve into the roles it plays, connects over 128 networks, with average traffic exceeding 800 Gbps. We are present in all of the major data centres in Lagos, including ICNL Digital, formerly medallion, Rack Centre, MDXI, Cloud Exchange, ADC, and OADC. We also have other points of presence in Abuja, Kano, Enugu, and Delta.”

Ugwuanyi explained the important role that IXPs play in reducing latency in network communications, which is essential for the efficient functioning of the DNS infrastructure. He illustrated this by comparing the latency between networks connected to IXPN and those that rely on submarine cables.

“For connection to IXPN, all these networks can reach each other at less than one millisecond. The average time to reach these DNS servers is less than one millisecond, as opposed to going through submarine cables, which takes no less than 90 to 100 milliseconds.”

This improvement in speed ascertains the effectiveness of IXPs in reducing latency, which is essential for faster, more reliable internet access, especially for DNS resolutions.

The Economic Benefits of IXPs

Ugwuanyi also emphasised the economic advantages of using IXPs. He explained that on average, most ISPs exchange 50-60% of their traffic at IXPN. This has a significant impact on cost savings for service providers.

“On average, most of the members exchange 50 to 60% of their traffic at IXPN. What this means is that 50-60% of a typical ISP’s traffic goes through the exchange point.”

He used Lagos as an example to highlight the difference in cost between using IXPN for local traffic versus using international transit. 

For instance, a one Gbps connection at IXPN costs around N200,000, while the cost for a similar connection using international transit is much higher, often around N1.2 million after negotiation. The cost difference is obvious, and it shows the economic benefits of localising traffic.

“If you look at the cost of a one Gbps transit, you’re looking at N1.2 million if you negotiate very well. The cost of the same one Mbps connection to IXPN is N200,000, which is a significant saving for providers.”

Outside Lagos, the cost of international transit increases drastically, which further stresses the economic advantage of using IXPs.

“One of our members in Ibadan told me that one Gbps transit connection costs almost N4 million there. So you can see how the reduction in cost of operation is quite significant.”

Enhancing Security and Compliance

Another key aspect of IXPs is their role in enhancing the security and compliance of internet traffic. By localising internet traffic, IXPs reduce the number of intermediaries involved in data transmission, thereby decreasing the exposure to potential attacks. Ugwuanyi explained:

“If the traffic is local, there are fewer players who can intercept and attack the traffic. It also reduces the exposure to attacks like Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), which is a significant threat when traffic passes through multiple providers and hubs.”

He also discussed how IXPs help with data localisation and compliance with regional regulations. In Nigeria, some laws prevent operators from storing user data outside the country, and IXPs help ensure compliance with such data localisation laws.

“Nigeria has some data localisation laws and policies. For example, operators are prevented from keeping their user data outside Nigeria. An IXP would facilitate and make it possible for players to comply with these regulations.”

Ugwuanyi stressed the importance of IXPs in the tech space, in terms of improving network performance and also reducing costs and enhancing security.

He noted that IXPs help in improving the efficiency, affordability, and security of internet services, making them an essential part of the technological infrastructure in Nigeria and beyond.

“The reduction in cost of operation and improved network performance provided by IXPs is precise. In Lagos, for example, the difference between using IXPN and international transit is very noticeable. The role of IXPs in improving connectivity and reducing costs is undeniable.”

The company clarified that it is not shutting down all Microsoft operations in Nigeria and “there are no impacts to the Africa Development center in Kenya”.

Meanwhile, Microsoft did not disclose the number of employees in Nigeria that will be affected by the decision regarding ADC Nigeria.

Updated statement by Microsoft made available to Techeconomy reads:

“Organizational and workforce adjustments are a necessary and regular part of managing our business. We will continue to prioritize and invest in strategic growth areas for our future and in support of our customers and partners.

“Microsoft has decided to close the Africa Development Centre in Nigeria, and as a result some of our employees based in Nigeria will be impacted.

“We will continue to operate in Nigeria, and we remain committed to Nigeria’s transformation objectives, and as such will continue to invest in our business and key growth areas in the region,” – a Microsoft spokesperson, said in a statement available to Techeconomy.

The company also said:

“This is not a site closure.

“We don’t take decisions like these lightly and we are deeply committed to doing everything we can to help our team members through these transitions.

“There are no impacts to the Africa Development center in Kenya”.

Techeconomy published an exclusive report of Microsoft’s plan to shut down ADC, comprising engineering and communications operations.

The workshop which also featured a data center tour, served as an opportunity to discuss opportunities within the data centre industry

Amongst some of the stakeholders who delivered talks at the workshop include Muhammed Rudman, MD/CEO, IXPN; Benjamin Deveaux, Head of Business Development, Workonline Communications Group; Wole Abu, CEO, Liquid Intelligent Technologies Nigeria, and Dr. Krish Ranganath, Regional Executive, Africa Data Centres.

These experts highlighted amongst other things the significance of IXPs, collaborative efforts, and stakeholder engagement in enhancing Africa’s Internet connectivity, reducing costs, and promoting local data domestication.

Below is the summary of what was discussed.

Peering in Carrier and Cloud-Neutral Data Centres

They agreed that Internet exchange points (IXPs) play a vital role in enhancing connections for individuals, organizations, and economies on the Internet.

In developed countries, most major cities have one or more IXPs. As data traverses the Internet, it often needs to be redirected between different networks. This means that traffic from one network has to transition to another network, which may be owned and operated by a different entity.

IXPs facilitate this data exchange process through a practice known as “peering.” Peering allows networks to directly exchange customer traffic with each other, eliminating the need to rely on a third-party service provider to transmit the data across the Internet.

By leveraging peering at IXPs, networks can efficiently hand off traffic between their respective networks, resulting in cost savings by bypassing the expense of engaging a third party to carry the data over the Internet.

Overall, peering in the carrier and cloud-neutral data centers offers cost efficiency, improved performance, enhanced reliability, greater control, local traffic exchange, content delivery optimization, and a collaborative environment for innovation.

These advantages contribute to the growth and stability of the Internet, benefiting both organizations and end-users.

Enhancing Local Internet Connectivity

IXPs play a critical role in optimizing network traffic and addressing various challenges that arise when data switches between networks.

Without IXPs, traffic would have to rely on intermediary networks or transit providers to transport data from its source to its destination, resulting in significant latency.

Moreover, the number of available routes for data would be limited, and the ability to switch to the fastest network at any given time would be compromised in the event of issues with the transit provider’s network, such as traffic surges, slow connections, or packet loss.

Peering through internet exchanges effectively tackles these challenges by ensuring the use of the shortest possible route to reach a specific destination. It keeps traffic local, thereby improving performance and enabling faster connections between networks. This facilitates high-speed data transfer, reduces latency, increases bandwidth, and enhances fault tolerance.

In the context of Africa, many countries have had to rely on paying international carriers to handle the exchange of “local” traffic between African nations.

This approach has proven to be expensive and inefficient. To establish an efficient and functional Internet, traffic must stay as local as possible, aligning with data residency regulations and keeping Internet costs low.

By establishing and promoting IXPs in Africa, countries can retain local traffic within their borders, ensuring compliance with data residency requirements, reducing dependence on international carriers, and enhancing the efficiency and affordability of the Internet within the continent.

African Efforts to Expand IXPs and Boost Internet Connectivity

Numerous initiatives have emerged to tackle the IXP challenges in Africa. During the Fourteenth Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly, Heads of State and Government of the African Union adopted a declaration pledging to strengthen national programs and regional cooperation for the development and interconnection of broadband infrastructures, as well as the deployment of regional IXPs.

The introduction of the African Internet Exchange System (AXIS) specifically aimed to reduce communication costs, diminish trade financing expenses, and ultimately lower the prices of goods.

Moreover, affordable and accessible bandwidth is expected to fuel regional trade integration, while emerging industries like business process outsourcing (BPO) and call centers are projected to generate employment opportunities, alleviate poverty, and stimulate wealth creation across the continent.

Encouragingly, The Internet Society conducted a comprehensive assessment of both members and non-members of the African IXP Association (Af-IX), including multiple IXPs. As of 2021, over half of Africa’s countries had established IXPs, with six countries boasting multiple exchange points (Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Tanzania).

However, it is worth noting that 20 countries in Africa still lacked IXPs, missing out on the benefits they offer.

The report also highlighted disparities in Internet adoption among different regions, despite similar income levels. This discrepancy can be attributed to positive enabling environments in certain countries, which include robust support for the IXP ecosystem.

IXPs have proven to be instrumental in reducing Internet access costs and enhancing the availability of content and services connected to these exchange points.

Consequently, it is evident that optimizing Internet traffic, supporting intra-continental data flows, and creating opportunities for private sector investments in these areas are in the best interests of all African countries.

Collaboration Among Stakeholders

They called for collaboration among stakeholders, as it is vital for the successful domestication of data at a local level. It enables the integration of diverse expertise, facilitates the development of effective governance frameworks, provides necessary resources, promotes knowledge sharing, and ensures inclusive decision-making.

By working together, stakeholders can harness the power of data to drive local development, innovation, and improved decision-making processes.

Presenting the award to Dr. Krish as he is fondly called in the ICT industry in Nigeria, the organizer of the award ceremony, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, noted that ‘Man of the Year’ is the highest award given to an individual each year.

“We are honoured to present to Dr. Krishnan Ranganath, Regional Executive-West Africa at the Africa Data Centres, ‘Man of the Year’ award,” announced Mr. Ken Nwogbo, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Nigeria CommunicationsWeek at the event held at the prestigious Oriental Hotel in Lagos.

He disclosed that Dr. Krishnan Ranganath was chosen for the award by critical industry stakeholders, who believe he has brought a lot of expertise into the data centre space, which is touted as the new oil.

Now in its 14th year, Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Award is regarded as the most prestigious annual event available in Nigeria’s ICT industry. Industry watchers and analysts see the award designed to reward individuals and corporate organization as merit centric.

Meanwhile, a visibly surprised Dr. Krishnan has described the award as heart-warming and thought-provoking, especially as he did not expect such an honour from a media organization and other industry stakeholders.

He believes the award is more of a challenge for him to work harder.

“I am surprised to have been called out for this recognition. My takeaway from this recognition is that the industry appreciates what we are doing at Africa Data Centres to empower businesses in Nigeria and Africa,” he told Journalists on the sideline.

Earlier in a lecture, he presented at the event titled ‘Digital Transformation and Cloud Services as New Order’, Dr. Krishnan had stated that the Nigerian cloud industry, which is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25% from 2022 to 2027 presents ample opportunities for businesses: integrating emerging technologies like edge computing, AI, machine learning, IoT, and blockchain.

He believes that Nigeria’s cloud will lead to capital flight reduction, improved responsiveness to citizens’ or customers’ needs, increased transparency, enhanced public service delivery and enhanced human capital and create new jobs.

Speaking about the digital gap, he argued that capacity building and promoting women in ICT are important for bridging the digital divide and promoting inclusive growth. “In Nigeria, only 22% of ICT jobs are held by women. Encouraging and promoting women’s participation in ICT can lead to increased innovation and economic growth,” he said.

Digital transformation and cloud services as new order will ensure the growth of Nigeria and Africa by creating a base for future generations and positioning Nigeria as the Silicon Valley for human capital and creating value for the system and people. It will alsotransform Nigeria by providing new opportunities for businesses and individuals.

However, this transformation requires local infrastructure and a commitment to cloud neutrality. Thanks to the likes of Africa Data Centres, which is already doing this by supporting the development of local digital economies, enabling businesses to innovate and compete on a global scale leveraging its world-class data centre infrastructure in Lagos.