Page 10 - EngineerIT January 2022

ICT – DATA CENTRES

Digital Realty to acquire majority

stake in Teraco

eraco Data Environments, Africa’s leading carrier-neutral data centre and The company offers vendor-neutral
interconnection solutions provider, announced in early January 2022 that Digital co-location and other related services
TRealty, the largest global provider of cloud and carrier-neutral data centre, co-location in secure and resilient data centres.
and interconnection solutions, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a majority The company operates seven high-
stake in Teraco from a consortium of investors, including Berkshire Partners and Permira. quality facilities with 75 megawatts of
The Teraco management team will remain in place and maintain day-to-day critical power load, serving more than
responsibility for operations in South Africa. The Teraco management team is led by CEO Jan 600 clients, including global Internet
Hnizdo, a long-time team member who has helped drive Teraco’s significant growth over the companies, across six core ecosystems –
last decade. Hnizdo is supported by an experienced and highly qualified local management connectivity providers, managed service
team with over 100 years of combined experience. In addition, Teraco’s existing investors, providers, cloud, content, enterprise
including several leading global digital infrastructure investors with significant experience and financial services. With more than
investing in Africa, are rolling forward a significant portion of their equity interests, 22 000 interconnects, Teraco’s data
demonstrating their conviction in Teraco’s future growth prospects. The continuing centres are the most interconnected
involvement of management and the existing investors is consistent with Digital Realty’s new facilities in Africa, allowing clients to
market entry strategy of partnering with strong local management teams and experienced connect directly to each other, to the
regional capital partners. onramps of all major cloud providers,
Established in 2008, Teraco is Africa’s largest data centre services provider with as well as to the continent’s largest and
facilities in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. In October 2021 Teraco completed its fastest growing Internet exchange point,
significant Cape Town hyperscale data centre campus, built to satisfy the growing need for NAPAfrica.
interconnection and digital transformation across the continent. As Africa’s largest vendor- The Digital Realty transaction will
neutral data centre and interconnection services provider, with the completion of Phase result in a powerful combination,
1 of CT2 in Brackenfell, Cape Town, Teraco is now operating the largest data centre in the providing Teraco continued access to
Western Cape. The new facility supports the growing demand by both cloud providers capital to grow. The Teraco and NAPAfrica
and enterprises for data centre capacity. CT2 offers highly resilient and secure co-location brands, which have a global reputation
facilities in line with Teraco’s long-term vision of enabling digital transformation across the for exceptional service, quality and client
African continent. focus, will continue. Being backed by a

EngineerIT | January 2022 | 8