Equinix: Equinix expanding into Africa through $320m MainOne acquisition

Equinix has announced that it is acquiring West Africa’s data center company MainOne for $320 million. The acquisition sees Equinix expand its operations into Africa for the first time. Funke Opeke founded MainOne in 2010 through its MDXi brand. The company has three data centers in operation in Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, and Ghana. MainOne also has another data center in construction in Nigeria that’s scheduled to be in operation in Q1 2022. Upon completion, the facilities will add over 64,000 gross square feet (6,000 square meters) of space and up to 52,300 square meters (570,000 square feet) of land for future expansions.

According to Equinix, the acquisition of MainOne is the first step in its strategy of becoming a top African carrier neutral digital infrastructure firm. The President and CEO of Equinix, Charles Meyers, said acquiring MaineOne signifies a key point of entry for Equinix to expand into the rapidly growing African data center market. Meyers also noted that MainOne has the right management team and a leading interconnection position that Equinix needs to become a leading digital infrastructure firm on the African continent.