The pan-African IT services company ST Digital inaugurated, on Thursday 2 October, a Tier 3 data center within the VITIB technology free zone in Grand-Bassam. The first infrastructure of its kind in the country, it marks a turning point in the local, secure and autonomous management of national data.
"With this facility, our digital momentum takes on a new dimension. In a context where digitalisation is accelerating and cyberattacks are multiplying, having local infrastructure is essential to protect our data," declared Anthony Same, Chief Executive Officer of the ST Digital group, at the inauguration ceremony. The data centre, designed across three modules, offers a hosting capacity of approximately 160 racks of 42 servers each, representing more than 6,000 physical servers and over 50,000 virtual servers. "It is eco-responsible, partially built with local materials and perfectly integrated into its environment," noted Steve Tchouaga, Chief Executive Officer of the Ivorian subsidiary. The infrastructure was completed in eight months, mobilising Ivorian experts with international support, demonstrating local expertise in a sector that is still emerging.
Until now, the majority of sensitive data belonging to Ivorian companies and public administrations was stored abroad, exposing the country to risks of dependency and vulnerability. With this project, ST Digital intends to repatriate data hosting and contribute to strengthening the digital sovereignty of Côte d'Ivoire. While promoting the protection of national data, the data center remains open to international partnerships and exchanges, thereby consolidating the integration of the Ivorian economy into the global digital ecosystem.
Beyond its technical role, the infrastructure aims to support the local digital ecosystem. It will be made available to public administrations, businesses, start-ups and national projects, fostering digital innovation and the modernisation of services. ST Digital also anticipates an impact on employment and skills development, through the creation of direct and indirect jobs and the upskilling of Ivorian talent in a strategic field.
The Ivorian project is part of a continental dynamic. According to data from Heirs Technologies, Africa still has a limited number of data centres compared to global standards, which exceed 8,000 installations. South Africa accounts for nearly a quarter of the continent's infrastructure with 49 centres, followed by Kenya (18), Nigeria (16), and Egypt (14). With five facilities now recorded, Côte d'Ivoire is positioning itself as an emerging player, and the VITIB data centre represents a major milestone in this progression.
With 232 administrative services already available online, Côte d'Ivoire continues its progress in the digitalisation of public procedures. ST Digital's data centre will play a crucial role in securing and optimising these services, by centralising data processing, improving the resilience of digital infrastructures and fostering the emergence of new innovative solutions for businesses and citizens. "Through this initiative, Côte d'Ivoire confirms its ambition to become a technology hub in West Africa, capable of combining innovation, digital sovereignty and attractiveness for investors," it was also announced.