This archive report was first published on 26 July 2021.
On July 26, 2021, Carol Koech, Country President of Schneider Electric East Africa, highlighted the importance of data centers in meeting the digital demands of East Africa.
With the pandemic accelerating our use of digital channels, data centers have become the backbone of our digital lives. They provide the computing power and storage needed to support our online activities, from streaming services to social media and online learning.
However, data centers are facing significant challenges in meeting the growing demand for faster speeds and better connectivity. According to Gartner, end-user spending on global data center infrastructure is projected to reach $200 billion in 2021, up 6% from 2020.
In East Africa, the demand for data centers is expected to rise rapidly, driven by the region's youthful demographics and growing internet penetration. In Kenya, for example, the country has a total of 43.7 million internet/data subscriptions, according to the Communication Authority of Kenya.
To meet this growing demand, data centers need to be designed and built with sustainability and efficiency in mind. This includes using modular, scalable, and energy-efficient solutions, such as lithium-ion batteries, which can reduce the total cost of ownership.
By adopting these strategies, data centers can ensure that they are future-ready, more energy-efficient, and sustainable. This is crucial, given the significant power consumption of data centers, which can account for up to 3% of global energy consumption.
As Carol Koech noted, 'We have a moment to plan out how best to design and build data centers to make them future-ready, more energy efficient and sustainable.' By working smart and planning ahead, we can ensure that East Africa's data centers are ready to meet the digital demands of the future.
