WIOCC Group and TEXAF has signed landmark shareholder agreement for DRCs first carrier-neutral data centre, OADC Kinshasa
Chris Wood, group CEO of WIOCC Group, whose subsidiary Open Access Data Centres (OADC), the fastest-growing data centre company in Africa, will operate the TEXAF-backed data centre, commented, “OADC Kinshasa will boost the DRC’s economy by delivering vibrant digital ecosystems and converged open digital infrastructure (CODI) services, including tailored colocation and reliable connectivity, which can be used by content providers, cloud operators, telcos and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to provide a multitude of digital products and services to business and domestic customers.”
With a population of more than 16 million people, Kinshasa is at the epicentre of demand for digital connectivity services within the DRC. Located within TEXAF’s Silikin Village, one of the largest digital hubs in Central Africa, the 2MW-capable OADC Kinshasa is an important, strategic element of digital infrastructure for the DRC, which the World Bank reports as being one of the most under-developed digital economies in Africa. It will also create rich and vibrant digital ecosystems, and provide content distribution networks and cloud content providers with access to a quality peering location in the country.
OADC Kinshasa will underpin and expedite further development of the country’s ICT capabilities, delivering colocation and other value-added data centre services that support the cloud infrastructure needs of a wide range of businesses and enterprises, enabling them to improve efficiency, expedite digitisation initiatives and more effectively service business and customer needs. The open, carrier neutral facility will create the first vibrant and comprehensive interconnection and peering ecosystem in the country involving multiple carriers, ISPs, content providers and Internet Exchanges; a first in the DRC, transforming the digital infrastructure ecosystem.
The facility embodies carrier-neutral principles, maximising interconnection opportunities for all clients. Increased competition and improved operator cost-efficiencies will contribute to the expected decrease in cost of internet connectivity for the Congolese people and companies, and will be a major enabler for the emergence and enhancement of the DRC’s digital ecosystem.
Unique converged open digital infrastructure (CODI) offering
Converged open digital infrastructure - the provision of carrier-neutral, open access data centre facilities connected to resilient, hyperscale, open-access, subsea and terrestrial networks - supplemented by a rich, vibrant digital ecosystem, will help boost the DRC’s economy and expedite digital transformation in the country.
It will not only offer businesses a viable alternative to self-build and self-manage data centre facilities, with all the dedicated resource, expertise, management time and cost benefits that come with that, but also support the cloud infrastructure needs of a wide range of businesses and enterprises, enabling them to improve efficiency, expedite digitisation initiatives and more effectively service business and customer needs. Carriers too will benefit, because OADC Kinshasa offers them connectivity revenue opportunities and the opportunity to extend their service portfolios, by including a managed colocation service capability.
