By Business Insider Reporter
A new strategic partnership between Wingu Africa and Africa Data Centres (ADC) is set to accelerate East Africa’s digital transformation and unlock new economic opportunities across the region.
The agreement – announced on November 3, 2025 – creates a Pan-African digital infrastructure platform linking Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Tanzania to ADC’s existing network of interconnected data facilities spanning South, West, and Central Africa.
Industry experts say this partnership will not only enhance the region’s data sovereignty but also stimulate trade, innovation, and job creation across East Africa’s fast-growing digital economy.
“This partnership marks an important milestone for Wingu Africa and East Africa’s digital ecosystem,” said Demos Kyriacou, Deputy CEO, COO, and Co-Founder of Wingu Africa.
He added: “By connecting our infrastructure with Africa Data Centres’ extensive network, we enable enterprises to operate across borders with the reliability and resilience they expect. It’s about making Africa’s digital economy easier to access, more predictable, and globally competitive.”
Boosting East Africa’s economic integration
The partnership will enable enterprises and service providers in Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Djibouti to scale their operations seamlessly across the continent. Businesses will benefit from lower latency, faster data exchange, and improved access to cloud and colocation services – all critical factors for the financial, logistics, and e-commerce sectors.
Analysts say East Africa stands to gain the most from this development, as it bridges the infrastructure gap between the continent’s coastal and landlocked economies.
For Tanzania, which has been positioning itself as a regional ICT hub under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, this collaboration supports national goals for a digital economy and innovation-driven growth.
“Enhanced data connectivity and cloud services will support industries such as banking, manufacturing, and telecommunications, which are key to East Africa’s economic diversification,” said one ICT expert based in Dar es Salaam. “It’s a strategic boost for governments pushing digital transformation agendas.”
Riding Africa’s US$6.8b data boom
Africa’s data center market is experiencing explosive growth. Valued at US$3.49 billion in 2024, it is projected to reach US$6.81 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual rate of 11.79 percent, according to Research and Markets. The rise of digital payments, e-government services, and the expansion of 5G networks are driving massive demand for secure data hosting.
According to Xalam Analytics, demand for cloud computing services in Africa is growing at 25–30 percent annually, making partnerships like this vital for meeting future digital needs.
A gateway for investment and innovation
For East Africa, this collaboration is expected to attract foreign direct investment in ICT infrastructure, digital startups, and cloud-based service industries. The creation of reliable data hosting within the region also supports data localization policies, which require sensitive data to be stored domestically.
With Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Djibouti gaining access to a unified digital platform, businesses will enjoy improved operational efficiency and cross-border collaboration. The initiative is expected to spur the creation of tech-driven jobs, particularly in cybersecurity, systems engineering, and digital services management.
Toward a connected continent
As Africa continues to embrace digital transformation, the Wingu Africa–ADC partnership symbolises a major step toward realizing a connected continental economy. It underpins the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) vision by enabling digital trade and creating a shared infrastructure backbone for sustainable growth. For East Africa, this collaboration represents more than a business deal – it’s a foundation for a resilient, inclusive, and interconnected digital future.
