THE data centre landscape in Africa is evolving rapidly. What was once a peripheral market has become a magnet for global investment, with projections indicating the industry could nearly double in value to $6.81-billion by 2030. Driving this momentum are accelerated digitisation, growing cloud infrastructure needs, and a surge in AI-related applications across both public and private sectors.
As this expansion takes hold, traditional infrastructure models are being challenged. The ability to design for flexibility is no longer optional—it is a foundational requirement. Across a continent where energy constraints, uneven growth, and changing regulations are the norm, clients need facilities that are resilient, scalable, and future-ready.
At WSP, we view flexibility as a strategic design choice. It begins long before ground is broken. It means anticipating shifting user needs, evolving legislation, and designing data centres that can adapt with minimal disruption. While modularity forms part of the solution, true flexibility stems from foresight.
A fast-moving market under pressure
Africa’s digital appetite is growing. From fintech and e-commerce to health services and government platforms, data consumption is soaring. Statista projects sustained double-digit growth in data centre revenue across the continent through 2028. In response, data centre developments are springing up in key hubs like Johannesburg, Nairobi, Lagos, and Accra.
However, despite the opportunity, challenges persist—especially around power, water, permitting, and the availability of specialist skills. In this context, design flexibility becomes a powerful tool. Infrastructure must be able to navigate complex realities like policy shifts, water shortages, and load-shedding. It must anticipate future IT loads, support efficient retrofits, and meet growing Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) expectations.
According to the Africa Data Centres Association’s 2023 report, operators face increased pressure to align with ESG standards and localise more of their supply chains and operations. Design strategies must make space for these priorities.
Engineering responsiveness into every layer
Flexibility touches every layer of a data centre’s design and operation—from site selection and energy modelling to cooling systems, power distribution, and maintenance strategies. With the rapid uptake of AI, capacity requirements are increasing far faster than in the past. Addressing this from the outset is critical.
Client expectations are also changing. Many now demand plug-and-play, scalable facilities that support phased capital investment while ensuring long-term adaptability.
Our design teams are integrating modular UPS systems, adaptable floor layouts, and phased buildouts that enable facilities to grow alongside demand.
We use digital twins for real-time performance monitoring, allowing clients to pre-empt issues and manage energy and water usage with precision.
As data centres become more AI-capable—and thus more resource-intensive—our focus on driving down Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), integrating renewable energy sources, improving water efficiency, and prioritising local sourcing becomes even more important. These priorities all require a highly adaptive engineering approach.
Global standards, local context
WSP’s Centre of Excellence in South Africa plays a key role in enabling globally competitive data centres within Africa’s unique operating environments. We support both hyperscale and colocation providers, delivering facilities that meet international standards while adapting to local challenges – be it poor soil quality, unreliable power grids, or compliance with local labour laws.
Our model blends global best practices with deep local knowledge. We deploy advanced digital workflows, stringent risk modelling, and strong governance across all our projects. We invest in local talent pipelines, build relationships with domestic suppliers, and ensure that design decisions reflect the on-the-ground realities of African markets.
Designing for resilience
Data centres are long-term investments. The most competitive facilities in Africa will be those designed to evolve – whether in terms of their energy profiles, cooling systems, compliance requirements, or customer base.
We approach flexibility not as an add-on, but as a core design principle. By aligning engineering, architecture, and sustainability disciplines, we ensure our facilities can support AI workloads, scale modularly, and meet shifting regulatory demands – all without compromising uptime.
This might involve planning for phased expansion, ensuring compatibility with on-site renewables, or integrating design elements that accommodate data sovereignty rules. Flexibility also extends to people: transferring skills, empowering local teams, and designing with long-term operational success in mind.
Building for tomorrow
Africa’s digital transformation must be underpinned by future-fit infrastructure. Raw capacity is only part of the story. How data centres are designed, powered, and maintained will determine their relevance in the years to come.
In a region where energy is expensive and regulatory complexity is rising, data centre strategies must go beyond the go-live date. They must account for lifecycle adaptation, operational optimisation, and the long-term sustainability of the facility.
