Meta is stepping up its investment in Africa’s digital backbone, backing new data centres and subsea cable systems to expand reliable internet access for the continent’s fast-growing online population.
At the weekend, Meta’s Edge Strategy Manager, Ben Ryall, speaking at the launch of Digital Realty’s third Lagos data centre (LKK2), emphasised that connectivity is no longer a luxury but a foundation for economic growth, financial inclusion, and social development.
“As people get used to faster speeds and richer experiences, the demand for reliable infrastructure will only intensify,” Ryall said.
A Hub for Global Connectivity
The new LKK2 facility, located in Lekki, adds nearly 2MW of installed IT capacity across 13,000 square feet. It interconnects with LKK1, which houses the landing station of the 2Africa subsea cable.
This link now gives Nigerian businesses direct access to more than 46 landing points across 33 countries in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, positioning Nigeria as a critical hub for global internet connectivity.
Scaling Africa’s Internet Future
With Africa’s population projected to reach 2.1 billion by 2050, Ryall described Sub-Saharan Africa as “the last continent” in the global effort to bring the unconnected online. He pointed to the rise of mobile money as an example of how improved connectivity fuels innovation.
Meta’s investment in the 2Africa subsea cable, combined with partnerships with internet exchanges and operators, is designed to strengthen resilience, reduce reliance on single cable systems, and significantly boost capacity.
The cable, which has multiple landing points in Nigeria, underpins services ranging from online education and telemedicine to e-commerce and social networking, while providing redundancy to support a rapidly expanding digital economy.
“Our goal is to build open, sustainable, and resilient digital infrastructure that unlocks Africa’s potential,” Ryall said.
Beyond Nigeria: A Continental Strategy
Ryall noted that Meta’s infrastructure ambitions go beyond Nigeria, with expansion plans targeting Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other underserved markets. The vision, he explained, is to create a digital ecosystem where African users enjoy the same quality of experience as those in developed markets.
Digital Realty’s Expansion
For Digital Realty, LKK2 represents another milestone in its African journey. The facility integrates with ServiceFabric, its global interconnection and orchestration platform, linking with LOS1 (the region’s largest internet peering point) and LOS2 (a highly connected data centre on Victoria Island).
According to Ikechukwu Nnamani, Managing Director of Digital Realty in Nigeria:
“LKK2 is a significant milestone in our journey to support digital transformation in Africa. Our continued investment in Nigeria and the broader region reinforces our commitment to enabling seamless global interconnectivity and providing a future-ready infrastructure platform.”
About 2Africa
First announced in 2020, the 45,000 km² 2Africa subsea cable is the world’s largest undersea cable system. The project encircles Africa and has two Nigerian landing points, Lagos and Kwa Ibo in the southeast.
The cable is owned by a consortium of eight international partners, including Meta, Bayobab, China Mobile International, MTN GlobalConnect (now Bayobab), Orange, stc (center3), Telecom Egypt, Vodafone, and WIOCC.
