Equinix opens JN1 data center in South Africa

Digital infrastructure company Equinix has launched the first phase of its 20-megawatt data center, called JN1, in Germiston, South Africa.

The JN1 Johannesburg International Business Exchange (IBX) data center offers secure, resilient colocation and interconnection services, creating a new hub in South Africa.

Equinix announced the US$160 million investment back in December 2022, citing that the facility would connect businesses within and outside of South Africa to Equinix's global network of customers and partners.

The first phase of the project is a 4-megawatt facility which is expected to host a diverse group of clientele, ranging from subsea cable providers to enterprise customers.

"This JN1 facility is one that began with a pledge that was made at the Investment Conference led by the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, and today we are seeing that pledge come to pass," said Equinix South African MD Sandile Dube at the launch.

"Equinix provides a platform that comprises a rich ecosystem, where we have several network service providers, cloud providers or hyperscalers as well as system integrators. That means that customers have a choice when they come to this facility," he continued.

Equinix narrows SA skills gap

Dube said that one of the most important aspects of Equinix's investment is the number of job opportunities the data center has provided.

"Although there has been a significant amount of investment in revenue that has gone into this establishment, what I am proud of is the opportunity that the investment is creating and enabling for South African businesses and our communities," Dube said.  

"As a result of this, we have seen several job opportunities that have been created particularly amongst women and young people. That for me is the essence of this investment; we are here to help South Africa address some of its challenges," he explained.

Furthermore, he said the company is also in South Africa to help narrow the digital skills gap.

"This facility is not merely another data center that offers colocation services, this is an integrated, interconnected global platform that brings seamless connectivity to South Africa," the Equinix SA MD said.

South Africa's Deputy Minister of the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), Mondli Gungubele, echoed Dube's sentiments, saying that by building the JN1 data center Equinix is not only advancing the country's digital infrastructure but also creating jobs and driving innovation.

South Africa's Deputy Minister of the DCDT Mondli Gungubele. (Source: Matshepo Sehloho)

The mayor of Ekurhuleni, Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, highlighted that Equinix JN1 facility had employed 750 ICT and construction workers.

Equinix extends its African footprint

The South African data center follows the company's February 2024 announcement that it would invest US$390 million in Africa over the next five years to build data centers.

The $390 million investment comes almost two years after the company entered Africa by acquiring West African data center and connectivity solutions provider MainOne for US$320 million.

The MainOne deal, announced in December 2021, aimed to expand Platform Equinix into West Africa, providing organizations both within and outside Africa with access to global and regional markets.

That acquisition added three operational data centers to Equinix’s portfolio, located in Nigeria, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire.