MTN Group Ltd., Africa’s largest telecommunications company, is taking a bold step into the future. The company has confirmed that it is in advanced talks with potential partners from the United States and Europe to establish AI-ready data centres across the continent under a new venture called Genova.
The move highlights MTN’s ambitions to become more than just a mobile network provider. By investing in data infrastructure designed for artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing, the telecom giant is positioning itself at the heart of Africa’s digital transformation.
Table of Contents
Genova: A Bold New Chapter for MTN
At the centre of this vision is Genova, MTN’s new data centre business. According to CEO Ralph Mupita, the company is negotiating commercial agreements that should be sealed before the end of this year. These partnerships will combine MTN’s regional presence with global technical expertise and financing.
The plan is straightforward: provide powerful computing capacity for rent to governments, banks, tech firms, and other enterprises in Africa. Some of these data centres will also host MTN’s own systems, ensuring the network can support rising demand for cloud services and AI applications.
The project is already underway. MTN has broken ground on a 9-megawatt (MW) facility in Nigeria, with an estimated cost of $240 million. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and MTN’s biggest market, was the natural choice for this first site. The company has hinted at similar developments across 15 to 16 other African countries in the coming years.
Why AI Data Centres Matter for Africa
Africa currently accounts for less than 1% of global data centre capacity suitable for AI workloads. Most of the continent’s hyperscale facilities are concentrated in South Africa, where international giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Alibaba have established strongholds.
This leaves a huge infrastructure gap. With the surge in AI-powered tools, financial technology platforms, e-commerce, healthcare data systems, and digital governance, the need for localised computing capacity has never been greater.
Without such infrastructure, African businesses must often rely on servers in Europe, the US, or Asia. This creates latency issues, higher costs, and potential data-sovereignty risks. By building homegrown AI data centres, MTN wants to cut these barriers and give African users a faster, safer, and more affordable digital experience.
For the telecom company itself, this is also a smart business strategy. Mobile revenues are maturing, with growth slowing in many of its markets. Expanding into AI and cloud infrastructure provides a fresh revenue stream while keeping the company relevant in a rapidly changing digital economy.
Opportunities and Challenges Ahead
MTN’s ambitions are bold, but the journey will not be without hurdles. Some key factors to watch include:
- Government Policy and Regulation: Data centres require clear laws around data privacy, digital security, and cross-border storage. Governments will play a big role in shaping the success of these facilities.
- Reliable Power Supply: Building high-capacity centres in countries with frequent electricity shortages is a major challenge. MTN will need renewable and backup solutions to keep uptime reliable.
- Global Partnerships: The type of partners MTN secures will influence the outcome. Collaborating with cloud computing leaders or AI specialists could give Genova a competitive edge.
- Competition: Other operators and global tech firms are already making moves across Africa. Microsoft, for example, has announced expansions in Kenya, while local telecoms are exploring similar opportunities.
Still, the potential rewards are enormous. Beyond boosting MTN’s earnings, these centres could create jobs, drive innovation in fintech and healthtech, and give African researchers and startups access to tools they previously lacked.
Looking Ahead
By year’s end, MTN expects to finalise its first round of partnerships and push ahead with construction. If successful, the Genova project will put MTN at the forefront of Africa’s AI revolution.
For African businesses, this means reduced reliance on overseas servers and faster adoption of new technologies. For governments, it offers a chance to modernise digital infrastructure, improve cybersecurity, and support data-driven policymaking.
The stakes are high, but so are the possibilities. MTN is betting that Africa will not just be a consumer of AI but a host and innovator in the space. If Genova delivers on its promise, the continent could begin closing its digital divide while opening a new chapter in global technology leadership.
Conclusion
MTN’s plan to roll out AI data centres across Africa is more than just a corporate expansion—it’s a bet on the continent’s future. With Nigeria leading the way and global partners on the horizon, MTN is laying the groundwork for Africa to take its rightful place in the age of artificial intelligence.
The coming years will reveal whether this bold vision can overcome the continent’s infrastructure challenges. But one thing is clear: Africa’s digital future is being written today, and MTN intends to hold the pen.
Join Our Social Media Channels:
WhatsApp: NaijaEyes
Facebook: NaijaEyes
Twitter: NaijaEyes
Instagram: NaijaEyes
TikTok: NaijaEyes
