ADC is part of Cassava Technologies a pan-African technology leader providing a vertically integrated ecosystem of digital services and infrastructure enabling digital transformation across Africa.

As a key stakeholder with over three decades in the Data Centre, Cloud, Connectivity, and Managed IT Services industries, Dr. Krish is renowned for his significant contributions in building the most number of data centres in the region.

Dr Krish is vastly experience in incubating startups and positioning them as challengers in high growth markets where they operate.

His impressive experience in running businesses includes complete life cycle management of the business includes: business planning, end-to-end P&L ownership, product development, sales/business development, go-to-market strategies formulation and execution, establishing multi megawatt Data Centre projects, service delivery, procurement, HR, finance and other business support functions, establishing systems and processes including integrated BSS and OSS automation, as well as applying the latest AI trends across the business-functions

He is a recipient of several awards by various institutions recognizing his impeccable contribution toward the development of the Data Centre Industry and the overall ICT sector in Africa over the years.

In this interview, Dr. Krishnan Ranganath, the regional executive – West Africa & Morocco- at Africa Data Centres (ADC), speaks on sundry issues impacting the tech industry. Excerpt:

Would you say the 2024 global economic challenges still affect the tech industry, particularly from your perspective in Africa?

Dr. Krish: 2024, a year of significant uncertainty across the globe, also had its share of challenges for Africa. However, we chose to take these challenges as learning opportunities—making the necessary adjustments and finding ways to adapt and move forward.

In the tech industry, change is constant; each day brings something new. We saw the rise of Nvidia and AI, and now, overnight, we’re discussing Deepseek. As a tech professional, it’s crucial to stay adaptable and embrace global changes while exploring how to apply them locally and regionally.

Technology continues to evolve daily, infiltrating our personal lives and promising more advancement throughout the year. These developments are likely to create significant employment opportunities across various sectors.

What strategic priorities should the tech industry focus on in 2025 to stay competitive?

Dr. Krish: In the midst of a rapidly changing technological landscape, companies are navigating the transformative power of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT). A striking 85% of businesses report that adopting AI has already improved productivity. McKinsey notes that companies using AI extensively can increase their cash flow by 122% over a five-year period.

These innovations are reshaping industry frameworks and altering competitive dynamics—startups leveraging blockchain technology are disrupting financial services and attracting substantial funding. This shift compels established players to rethink strategies, invest in digital transformation, and adapt to new consumer expectations driven by rapid technological advancements.

Looking at 2025, AI is at the centre of global conversations, supported by big data, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, which play a critical role in the tech ecosystem.

What trends are shaping data centre adoption in Africa amid the rise of cloud and AI?

Dr. Krish: As the drive to develop artificial intelligence and related technologies grows, so does the demand for data processing capacity—fuelling a data centre boom across Africa, despite infrastructure challenges.

In recent years, investment in African data centres has increased, though not at the same scale as more established economies.

Since 2022, new carrier-neutral data centres have been commissioned, with more in the pipeline. Key construction activity is underway in Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, and South Africa. These developments are supported by efforts to improve regulatory frameworks, energy infrastructure, and connectivity—while also promoting digital transformation, cloud adoption, and addressing the skills gap.

However, the continent still lags behind global benchmarks, accounting for less than 2% of the world’s co-location data centre supply. Notably, more than half of this capacity is concentrated in South Africa, according to the Africa Data Centres Association.

Currently, cloud services for Africa are largely served from South Africa and Europe. As demand rises, we’re seeing the emergence of local cloud regions in Nigeria and Kenya, with further expansion expected in Morocco, Egypt, and other countries.

What are the best ways for industry stakeholders to collaborate and accelerate data centre adoption in Africa?

Dr. Krish: Among African data centre operators, we have five to six key players. Collaboration should focus on capacity sharing across locations and real-time communication regarding available resources.

Initiatives like the Africa Data Centres Association (ADCA) are gaining traction, and we expect greater clarity on collaborative strategies moving forward.

We also need to prioritise human capacity building and enhanced network connectivity between data centres. This will simplify client operations across multiple providers and drive a more integrated infrastructure ecosystem.

What role should governments play in accelerating Africa’s data centre expansion?

Dr. Krish: Take Nigeria as an example—regulatory bodies like the NDPC and NITDA play pivotal roles in driving data centre growth. When governments advocate for digitalisation and data localisation, the local cloud and data centre industries benefit significantly.

A major opportunity lies in repatriating African government data—over 75% is currently hosted outside the continent. Bringing this data back home would be a substantial driver for local industry, demonstrating leadership from the front.

Additionally, governments should consider reducing customs tariffs on data centre-related imports. While free zones exist, most are located outside city limits—areas where clients typically prefer data centres to be.

Do you see a substantial market opportunity for data centres in Nigeria?

Dr. Krish: The Nigerian data centre market presents significant growth opportunities, driven by increasing cloud adoption, digitalisation, and the need for secure and scalable data storage.

The market size is estimated at 136.7 MW in 2025 and is expected to reach 279.4 MW by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 15.37%.

Additionally, colocation revenue is projected to increase from USD 251.1 million in 2025 to USD 578.1 million by 2030, reflecting a CAGR of 18.15%.

Data localisation initiatives and digital transformation efforts are driving profound changes in the Nigerian data centre market, with government emphasis on local data hosting leading to increased domestic investments.

Faith Waithaka takes over from the outgoing chairman of ADCA, Dr. Ayotunde Coker, according to a statement on the association’s website.

ADCA is the leading industry body championing a robust and interconnected data centre and cloud infrastructure ecosystem across Africa and has elected new board members and executive leadership team, during its Annual General Meeting which marks a pivotal moment in ADCA’s commitment to accelerating digital transformation across the continent.

With Africa’s digital economy expanding at an unprecedented pace, the newly appointed leadership team will play a critical role in steering ADCA’s strategic agenda—fostering collaboration, enhancing industry standards, and advocating for policies that enable sustainable growth.

The new Chairperson, Faith Waithaka is an accomplished leader with deep roots in Africa’s technology ecosystem.

She is is set to guide the association’s strategic priorities, aligning the board and its members around a common goal: building a thriving, world-class infrastructure landscape.

“I am deeply honored and humbled as I step into the role of Board Chair of the Africa Data Centre Association (ADCA) at such a pivotal time for our industry. The Data Centre sector is not only the backbone of the digital economy, but also an ecosystem that demands both resilience, responsibility, and reliability. Having spent my career immersed in its technical and operational depths, I understand the urgency of our mission and the opportunity we hold. I also want to sincerely thank our outgoing Chair, Dr. Ayotunde Coker, for his exceptional leadership and steadfast dedication. You have laid a strong foundation, and I am grateful to build upon it.

“I am excited at the opportunities for growth of the digital infrastructure across Africa. The continent is rich with potential, innovation, and talent and as demand for connectivity and cloud services accelerates, we have a responsibility to build with intention, sustainability, and long-term impact in mind.” — said, Faith Waithaka, Chairperson, Africa Data Centres Association (ADCA).

Bringing continuity and unwavering dedication to the leadership team, Nikki Blake returns as General Secretary.

Her re-election reflects both the trust of the ADCA community and her proven ability to advance the association’s mission.

Blake’s experience ensures stability at a time of ambitious growth, as she continues to advocate for stronger industry collaboration and capacity building.

Commenting, Nikki Blake, general secretary, Africa Data Centres Association (ADCA), said:

”I am honored to be re-elected as General Secretary of ADCA. It’s a privilege to serve alongside our new Chairperson, Faith Waithaka—together, we step into the next two years with bold vision, unity, and purpose. The best is yet to come!”

Stepping into the role of Treasurer, Lee Perrin brings a sharp focus on operational excellence and sustainable growth.

With Africa’s data centre landscape facing both significant opportunities and complex challenges, Perrin is poised to help navigate this dynamic environment.

“With Africa’s digital infrastructure expanding rapidly, we face both exciting opportunities and real challenges — from building a strong talent pipeline to improving data centre reporting and navigating complex supply chain dynamics. My focus on the board will be to support skills development, accelerate industry transparency, and help unlock practical solutions that move our sector forward. As a combined force, I believe the ADCA community has the strength and knowledge to build a resilient and world-class digital infrastructure landscape for Africa. I’m proud to be part of that journey and look forward to what we can achieve together.”– said Lee Perrin, Treasurer, Africa Data Centres Associations (ADCA).

Building upon the strong foundation of its newly elected executive leadership, the Africa Data Centre Association (ADCA) has further strengthened its governance with the addition of a distinguished cohort of new board members.

Together, they will help shape the strategic roadmap for building a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready digital infrastructure ecosystem. 

ADCA’s Board

The newly elected board members bring a wealth of experience and a diversity of perspectives, each contributing unique insights to propel ADCA’s mission forward:

Dr. Angus Hay (Regional Executive: South Africa, Africa Data Centres):

A founding member of ADCA and a seasoned leader with over 15 years of experience in Africa’s data centre landscape, Dr. Hay combines deep industry knowledge with strategic vision. His early role in establishing South Africa’s internet infrastructure underscores his long-standing commitment to advancing digital growth across the continent. His guidance will be instrumental in steering ADCA towards sustainable progress.

Lee Perrin (Data Centre MEA Director, CBRE Global):

In addition to his role as Treasurer, Perrin’s expertise spans skills development, supply chain optimisation, and market research, all critical components of Africa’s evolving data centre sector. His focus on operational excellence and sustainable growth strengthens the board’s collective ability to drive transformative outcomes.

Paul Schonborn (CEO, STELLARIX Madagascar):

As the CEO of STELLARIX Madagascar, Schonborn brings invaluable insights from a fast-growing African market. With extensive experience across ICT, telecoms, and corporate communications, and a firm belief in inclusive growth, he champions accessible and reliable digital services. His pan-African perspective and commitment to responsible partnerships will be key assets in advancing ADCA’s regional impact.

Roderick de Boer (Director of Business Development, Equinix Africa & Middle East):

De Boer brings with him the global insights of Equinix, enriching ADCA with an international perspective. His role in fostering regional growth and connecting African markets to global digital hubs positions him as a valuable advocate for the continent’s integration into the worldwide digital economy.

Snehar Shah (CEO, IX Africa Data Centres): With a proven track record of scaling tech businesses across East Africa and currently spearheading the development of a hyperscale data centre in the region, Shah, brings a deep understanding of regional dynamics and the immense growth opportunities within the African market.

The newly elected Chairperson, Ms. Waithaka, extended a warm welcome to the new board members and shares her enthusiasm about working together to drive the association’s mission forward saying;

“I would like to extend a warm welcome to our newly appointed board members. Your insights and leadership come at a crucial time, as we embark on the journey ahead to promote and develop growth for the industry together. I look forward to working alongside my fellow board members, our exceptional management and marketing team, as well as our valued ADCA members to build a future that is sustainable, secure, and bold in its ambition. It is a privilege to lead in a space where infrastructure meets innovation, and where every decision helps power not just growth, but inclusion, equity, and opportunity across Africa and beyond. When we talk about the future of digital infrastructure, one thing is clear: Africa is not just part of the solution, “AFRICA is the solution!”, she said. 

The Africa Data Centre Association (ADCA) expresses its profound confidence that the collective wisdom, extensive experience, and unwavering dedication of these newly elected board members, working in close collaboration with the executive leadership, will be the driving force behind achieving the association’s ambitious goals.