Digital Realty (NYSE: DLR), a global leader in data center and interconnection solutions, has launched its third data center, LKK2, in Lagos, Nigeria, marking a significant step in bolstering West Africa’s digital infrastructure.
The new facility, located in Lekki, taps into the transformative 2Africa subsea cable, projected to contribute over $37 billion to Africa’s GDP by fueling connectivity and digital growth. This strategic expansion strengthens Nigeria’s role as a digital hub, connecting local enterprises to global cloud and network ecosystems.
The LKK2 data center adds 2 megawatts of IT capacity across 13,000 square feet, addressing Nigeria’s surging demand for scalable, high-performance infrastructure. Interconnected with Digital Realty’s LKK1 facility, which is the landing station for the 2Africa cable, LKK2 offers low-latency access to 46+ landing points across 33 countries in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
This integration, facilitated by Digital Realty’s ServiceFabric® platform, ensures seamless connectivity to LOS1 and LOS2 data centers in Lagos, creating a resilient ecosystem for enterprises and hyperscalers.
Ikechukwu Nnamani, managing director of Digital Realty in Nigeria, emphasised the facility’s role, stating, “LKK2 is a milestone in supporting Africa’s digital transformation. Our investment in Nigeria enables global interconnectivity and provides future-ready infrastructure for enterprises.”
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The facility, built to Tier 3+ standards, features N+1 power and N+2 cooling, six layers of security, and direct 2Africa cable access, ensuring reliability and performance.
The $37 billion GDP projection, tied to 2Africa’s broader impact, underscores LKK2’s role in driving Nigeria’s digital economy. By integrating with global networks, the facility supports 4G, 5G, and broadband expansion, aligning with Africa’s 2030 development goals. With Africa’s digital demand soaring, Digital Realty’s investment positions Nigeria as a cornerstone of the continent’s digital future.
Nnamani noted, “LKK2 empowers businesses to grow, scale, and connect anytime, anywhere.”
Ben Ryall, edge strategy manager at Meta, highlighted its importance, stating, “Digital infrastructure like LKK2 is the backbone of the digital economy, enabling connectivity and economic growth. With Africa’s population set to reach 2.1 billion by 2050, investments like these are critical for scaling services like mobile money and social platforms.”
The cable’s landing in Lekki on February 7, 2024, overcame significant challenges, including a lack of roads, power, and fiber ducts, as well as flood risks from the nearby Atlantic Ocean. Digital Realty tackled these obstacles head-on, constructing a 4.2-kilometer paved road, a 33kV power line from the AJAH substation, diverse fiber routes, and a flood defense wall designed to withstand sea level rise for 275 years. These efforts transformed Lekki into a burgeoning urban hub, sparking job creation, residential growth, and investments like a 50MW power plant by Mecca Energy.
