KEY POINTS
- Vertiv and Cybastion signed an MoU to expand digital infrastructure in Africa.
- The partnership targets Morocco, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Chad and Gabon.
- Rising AI and data centre demand is driving the push for new infrastructure.
Vertiv and U.S. technology company Cybastion have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on digital infrastructure development across parts of Africa, as demand for data centres, artificial intelligence and secure digital platforms continues to rise.
The partnership was announced in Marrakech, Morocco, on October 5, with an initial focus on Northwest and parts of West and Central Africa.
The companies said their collaboration will cover markets including Morocco, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Chad and Gabon, where they already have business interests and strategic engagements.
The agreement is designed to combine Vertiv’s expertise in critical digital infrastructure with Cybastion’s relationships and experience in government-led digital transformation programmes.
Partnership targets major digital projects
The collaboration could allow Vertiv to become involved earlier in large-scale digital infrastructure projects by working with Cybastion on national digitalisation programmes.
Vertiv provides infrastructure solutions covering areas such as power, cooling and other systems needed to keep data centres and digital facilities running reliably.
Cybastion, meanwhile, focuses on digital transformation across African markets and has developed relationships around government-led technology programmes.
The companies said combining their capabilities could create a broader ecosystem for customers that are seeking integrated digital infrastructure rather than individual technology solutions.
Zineb Kamri, Vertiv’s regional director for Northwest Africa, said the partnership would help the company position its power, cooling and critical infrastructure solutions within wider national digitalisation programmes.
She also said the framework could be expanded to other markets as joint opportunities emerge.
Morocco seen as key market
Morocco is expected to play an important role in the partnership because of its ambition to establish itself as a regional digital hub.
The country is seeking to attract major investments in hyperscale data centres and artificial intelligence infrastructure, creating potential opportunities for companies involved in digital infrastructure.
Cybastion already has a presence in West and Central Africa and is expanding into North Africa, a geographical reach that Vertiv said complements its own regional growth strategy.
The companies believe their combined footprint could help them pursue infrastructure projects across multiple African markets as governments and businesses increase investment in digital services.
AI and data centre demand driving investment
The partnership comes as African countries seek to expand their digital infrastructure to support cloud computing, artificial intelligence and other data-intensive technologies.
Growing demand for secure digital platforms is also increasing the need for reliable power and cooling systems capable of supporting data centres and other critical facilities.
Cybastion CEO Dr. Thierry Wandji said the agreement with Vertiv would strengthen the company’s ability to deploy critical digital infrastructure as African countries pursue greater digital sovereignty.
The companies did not disclose the financial value of the agreement or specific projects that will be developed under the MoU.
However, the partnership establishes a framework through which Vertiv and Cybastion can jointly pursue digital infrastructure opportunities across their target markets.
