Michael James
Leeds, England — Schneider Electric has expressed confidence in multinationals ability to play critical role in harnessing the full potential of African data center market.
This according to Schneider can be done by bridging the data centre market whereby multinationals can increasingly hire local engineers, providing valuable expertise and experience while exposing these talents to global market.
Faith Waithaka, Cloud and Service Provider Segment Sales Lead: Anglophone Africa at Schneider Electric said example, Schneider Electric teams from regions such as Anglophone and Francophone Africa have continuous access to knowledge and developments from their peers across the world.
“This is incredibly valuable as it allows these teams to stay on par with their global counterparts.
Importantly, it bridges the talent gap and brings the requisite skills that contribute to the ongoing growth of the African data centre marketplace,” she said.
She added that another important data centre growth enabler is infrastructure development noting that multinationals contribute to various aspects of infrastructure development, including grid stability, efficient water management, and the introduction of advanced technologies.
“In turn, these investments deliver advancements in cooling systems, electrical equipment, and the promotion of renewable energy sources. Simply put, these developments and ongoing investment by multinationals offer significant benefits to the continent.
“When discussing multinationals’ role in the African data centre market, it would be remiss not to mention sustainability. Here, these organisations have a significant part to play in ensuring local data centre markets align with international environmental sustainability principles.
“This includes implementing energy efficient infrastructure that utilises renewable energy sources, optimises cooling systems to minimise energy consumption, and effectively manages and tracks water consumption.
“Together with environmental sustainability, social and governance also come into play. The data centre industry has the potential to bring significant growth in terms of education access, particularly through digital platforms. This can greatly improve access to education in Africa, providing opportunities for learning and skills development,” she said.
If one considers the ongoing investment in Africa and its favourable geographical position, Faith Waithaka, and her counterparts Kevin Kent, Founder & CEO of Critical Facilities Efficiency Solutions said it is highly likely that the continent will become a major player in both data centre expansion and the processing of data. Over the next decade, a substantial portion of global data processing is expected to flow through Africa, cementing its position as a key player in the data centre industry.
