Huawei Technologies, a leading global information communication technology (ICT) infrastructure provider, has announced its plans to establish a state-of-the-art data center in Nigeria by October 31, 2024. This initiative aims to address the country’s data storage regulations and support local businesses by providing a secure and compliant platform for data storage and computing.
This announcement was made during a keynote speech by David Olaiya, Head of Cloud Fintech Business Development at Huawei Nigeria, during Fintech Week 2024 in Lagos. According to Olaiya, the facility, dubbed a “cloud site,” will cater to the growing demand for localized data storage and cloud services, ensuring businesses in Nigeria comply with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
Data Sovereignty and Compliance: Meeting Nigeria’s Needs
The move to establish a local data center comes in response to Nigeria’s increasing focus on data sovereignty and compliance with data storage laws. The NDPR mandates that Nigerian citizens’ data must be stored within the country, a regulation that many businesses utilizing foreign cloud services have found challenging. Huawei’s new cloud facility will address this issue, allowing businesses to store their data locally, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
David Olaiya emphasized that data sovereignty and compliance are crucial for businesses, particularly those operating in sectors like fintech that are subject to strict data protection regulations. By setting up a local data center, Huawei aims to lower the risk of non-compliance for Nigerian businesses, particularly fintech companies that process sensitive financial information.
Boosting Local Availability and Reducing Latency
In addition to addressing data compliance concerns, the new Huawei data center in Nigeria will significantly improve local availability and reduce latency for businesses relying on cloud services. By housing data and computing resources closer to end users, companies will experience faster response times and enhanced service delivery, especially for mission-critical applications. This is expected to provide significant advantages in sectors such as fintech, telecommunications, and e-commerce, where speed and reliability are paramount.
The Nigerian data center will also benefit from Huawei’s global 24/7 support network, while local operations will be supported by a dedicated team to ensure seamless service delivery and technical assistance.
Global Expansion: Huawei Cloud’s Footprint in Africa and Beyond
Although Huawei Cloud operates 93 availability zones across 33 regions globally, Nigeria will become the third African country to host a Huawei data center, following South Africa and Egypt. Currently, Huawei’s African cloud operations are based out of data centers in South Africa, with a link to another facility in Ireland. This Nigerian facility will act as an extension of Huawei’s existing cloud infrastructure, further expanding its footprint across the African continent.
In Egypt, Huawei Cloud entered into a strategic partnership with Telecom Egypt to build the company’s first locally-based public cloud platform. This initiative aligns with Egypt’s digital transformation strategy and further demonstrates Huawei’s commitment to supporting Africa’s evolving tech ecosystem.
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Empowering Nigerian Startups and Driving Digital Transformation
In line with its ongoing efforts to support local innovation, Huawei Cloud announced earlier in 2024 that it would provide support for 100 Nigerian startups to grow and innovate on its cloud platform over the next two years. The new data center in Nigeria will play a crucial role in this initiative, offering startups access to secure, high-performance cloud infrastructure designed to meet the needs of rapidly growing businesses.
Moreover, the Nigerian government’s focus on enhancing the country’s digital infrastructure was highlighted in May 2024, when the government revealed plans to open a 1.4-petabyte capacity data center. This facility will store critical national information, including citizens’ biometric data, and support the broader digital transformation strategy. Huawei’s entry into the local data storage space aligns with this vision, further strengthening Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
Huawei’s Continued Commitment to Africa’s ICT Growth
Huawei’s decision to establish a local data center in Nigeria marks a significant milestone in the country’s journey toward data sovereignty and digital transformation. By offering a secure, compliant, and high-performance cloud infrastructure, the company is not only helping local businesses meet regulatory requirements but also positioning Nigeria as a key player in Africa’s growing tech landscape.
As Nigeria continues to push for greater cloud adoption, data protection, and tech innovation, Huawei’s new facility is set to play an important role in shaping the future of the country’s ICT sector, enabling businesses to thrive in a digitally-driven economy.