Comoros Receives $10.5 Million from AfDB for New Data Centre Construction

The African Development Bank has approved a $10.5 million loan to Comoros to establish a new data centre, enhancing conditions for digital innovation. The initiative aims to bolster governance and public services, with support from various funding sources. As Internet penetration increases, this project marks a significant investment in the country’s digital economy.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has granted a €9.51 million ($10.5 million) loan to Comoros for the establishment of a new data centre, an existing secondary centre, and an incubator. This funding is designed to bolster conditions for digital innovation and entrepreneurship in the East African nation, with a total project expenditure of €22.53 million ($24.9 million). The African Development Fund and the Transition Support Facility contributed €4.02 million ($4.4 million) and €5.49 million ($6 million) respectively.

The project, aimed at supporting the digitisation of Comoros’ economy, will enhance governance and public services through the setup of a digital administration. A private operator will be contracted to manage the centres’ operations, including marketing and maintenance, and expansion efforts. Key components include a digital administrative platform, e-services, a public payment system, and an interoperability data-sharing platform.

In line with the significance of data management and protection, the initiative allocates resources to establish a National Authority for the Protection of Personal Data and Access to Information. Completion of this project is anticipated to yield comprehensive digital services tailored to the needs of the Comorian populace, facilitating greater access to digitisation.

As of January 2024, Internet penetration in Comoros stands at 27.3%, marking a 1.8% increase from the previous year. The East African data centre market is projected to generate $1.09 billion by 2024, with Network Infrastructure expected to contribute $0.48 billion. Other notable developments in the region include the opening of a hyper-scale data centre in Kenya by IXAfrica Data Centres and Schneider Electric, and further investments in state-of-the-art facilities by Microsoft and G42.

The African Development Bank’s investment in Comoros is a critical step forward in advancing digital infrastructure and innovation within the region. By establishing data centres and enhancing digital services, the project seeks to improve governance and accessibility while creating a robust framework for economic growth. As the data centre market expands across East Africa, Comoros stands to benefit significantly from these advancements.

Original Source: techpoint.africa