Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), 18 September 2024 – ST Digital, a leading African cloud services provider, has announced its expansion into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by partnering with the OADC Texaf – Kinshasa data centre. This partnership positions ST Digital at the forefront of the region’s digital transformation, leveraging the world-class infrastructure of the DRC’s first live open-access, carrier-neutral and Uptime Institute Tier-III certified data centre.
The OADC Texaf – Kinshasa facility, with its 2MW capacity, has set the benchmark as the cornerstone of the DRC’s emerging digital ecosystem. It is on track to achieve ISO27001 post-live certification, underscoring its commitment to the highest standards of security and operational excellence. Already home to most of the leading national and international carriers, the facility offers the first carrier-neutral open-access vibrant interconnect ecosystem and a compelling environment for content providers such as ST Digital to deliver high-quality content and services to the growing population.
Content providers play a crucial role in the digital landscape, especially in a rapidly developing market like the DRC, where the growing population is driving a need for digital transformation. By colocating in the OADC Texaf – Kinshasa data centre, ST Digital will be well-positioned to meet the rising demand for content as connectivity improves and more citizens have access to reliable Internet. “Our facility offers the ideal environment for this growth, providing secure, carrier-neutral, open-access, reliable and scalable infrastructure that supports the delivery of diverse digital content across the region,” said Mohammed Bouhelal, Managing Director of OADC Texaf.
The DRC, with its population of over 100 million and a vibrant city of Kinshasa with over 16 million inhabitants is experiencing significant growth in content consumption driven by increased access to connectivity and ongoing digitalisation efforts. As the government and private sector continue to invest in digital infrastructure, the demand for localised and high-quality content is expected to rise sharply. ST Digital’s entry into the DRC market through the OADC Texaf – Kinshasa data centre is a strategic move that will enable the company to tap into this growing demand and provide faster, more reliable content delivery to millions of users.
“The DRC’s digital transformation is creating immense opportunities for content providers, and our expansion into this market is a key part of our growth strategy. By partnering with OADC Texaf – Kinshasa, we can ensure that our content reaches audiences with the speed, security and quality they expect. This move will not only benefit our business but also contribute to the overall digitalisation of the DRC, enhancing access to information and entertainment for a wider population,” said Jean-Francis AHANDA, General Manager Data Centre Services, ST Digital.
About OADC Texaf – Kinshasa data centre – https://openaccessdc.net/oadc-kinshasa/
OADC Texaf – Kinshasa is the DRC’s first Uptime Institute Tier-III certified data centre, offering open-access, carrier-neutral colocation services. The facility is designed to support the growing demand for digital services across various industries in the DRC, including content delivery, telecommunications, and enterprise sectors. With ISO27001 certification on track for Q3 2024, OADC Texaf – Kinshasa is committed to maintaining the highest standards of security and operational excellence.
About ST Digital
ST DIGITAL is a pan-African digital services company that supports African companies and administrations in their digital transformation. It offers a range of services including Digital Transformation, Infrastructure and Cloud, Cybersecurity, Business Solutions, Collaborative Work and Training. ST DIGITAL is present in several African countries, including Cameroon, Congo, Togo, Benin, DRC, Gabon, and Ivory Coast. Since 2021, ST DIGITAL has been an independent player owning a Tier-3 data centre to international standards, becoming the first 100% African private cloud provider. In 2023, the company launched www.cloudstore.africa, a 100% African platform offering cloud services such as virtual servers, web hosting, email addresses, and domain names. The platform stands out for its affordable prices, adapted payment methods, fast delivery and responsive customer service.
About WIOCC Group
Since 2008, WIOCC Group, Africa’s converged open-access digital infrastructure (CODI) leader, has been helping transform Africa’s digital landscape by introducing client-centric innovations.
WIOCC Group is the parent company of WIOCC, Africa’s digital backbone, and Open Access Data Centres (OADC), Africa’s fastest-growing data centre company. It is pioneering and accelerating Africa’s digital transformation: creating an environment in which all Africans can take advantage of world-class technology developments to build better lives, better businesses and a better world, by deploying CODI across Africa; infrastructure that is expediting and underpinning Africa’s digital transformation.
About TEXAF – www.texaf.be
Established in 1925, TEXAF is the only listed company with all its activities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Currently, these are concentrated on real estate and quarrying, although TEXAF is beginning to develop a new branch of activity in the digital field and aims to become a major player in this sector.
This listing on the stock exchange and the resulting obligations of good governance and transparency constitutes a major asset for the group’s development and for the promotion of the formal sector in the DRC-
