Teraco, a leading provider of interconnection platforms and vendor-neutral colocation data centres in Africa, has officially commenced construction on its JB7 hyperscale data centre at its Isando Campus in Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, South Africa. The new facility, with a capacity of 40 megawatts (MW) of critical power, will significantly enhance Teraco’s role in Africa’s digital ecosystem.
The JB7 development, part of Teraco’s strategy to expand its footprint in sub-Saharan Africa, comes when demand for digital infrastructure across the continent is on the rise. With an investment valued at R8 billion (approximately USD 442 million), the data centre will cater to growing needs for scalable and interconnected infrastructure across multiple industries.
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A sustainable vision for data centre operations
Incorporating advanced sustainable technologies, JB7 will feature innovative cooling and water management systems to minimise energy and water consumption. The facility’s design emphasises energy efficiency, with cutting-edge cooling technologies such as a closed-loop chilled water system and free-air cooling for data halls. These green initiatives are part of Teraco’s broader commitment to responsible, sustainable operations.
Jan Hnizdo, CEO of Teraco, highlighted that South Africa’s advanced infrastructure has made it the technology and data centre hub for sub-Saharan Africa, with the country now a key gateway for global cloud services. He added, “Massive global investments into undersea cables, like Equiano and 2Africa, further strengthen this position. This will enable global cloud providers to service not only South Africa but the entire sub-Saharan African region.”
Expanding Teraco’s network and connectivity
JB7 is the latest addition to Teraco’s growing network, which already includes the Isando Campus—one of Africa’s most interconnected data centre locations. The facility will offer direct access to Platform Teraco, Africa’s largest internet exchange point, NAPAfrica, and network providers. This will facilitate low-latency, high-performance connections for businesses operating across industries, including finance, e-commerce, and entertainment.
Samuel Erwin, Teraco’s Chief Financial Officer, emphasised the strong support from local institutional investors for the company’s projects, noting that “the new syndication was well oversubscribed, reflecting confidence in our data centre platform, growth path, and ESG initiatives.”
Powering Africa’s digital future
The JB7 data centre is strategically positioned to support Africa’s growing cloud computing needs, with Teraco investing in renewable energy to power its facilities. This includes a 120MW solar PV generation plant that will feed into the national grid. Erwin added, “We have a unique opportunity in South Africa to integrate renewable energy generation into the provision of data centre infrastructure to support continued, sustainable digital advancement.”
Teraco’s investment in JB7 underscores the company’s role in accelerating Africa’s digital transformation by providing state-of-the-art, scalable data infrastructure. As cloud computing, AI, and other technologies continue to reshape industries, Teraco’s facilities are poised to remain at the heart of Africa’s digital economy.