Africa moves to end data colonialism as UniCloud, OADC seal sovereign cloud deal
In a major push to strengthen Africa’s control over its digital future, UniCloud Africa and Open Access Data Centres have announced a strategic partnership aimed at keeping African data within the continent and reducing dependence on foreign cloud providers.
In a major push to strengthen Africa’s control over its digital future, UniCloud Africa and Open Access Data Centres have announced a strategic partnership aimed at keeping African data within the continent and reducing dependence on foreign cloud providers.
The agreement will see UniCloud Africa deploy its enterprise-grade sovereign cloud and Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure inside OADC’s carrier-neutral data centres in Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Africa. The move is designed to provide governments and businesses with secure, locally hosted digital services that meet regulatory requirements and ensure data stays within national borders.
The partnership comes at a time when concerns are growing across Africa about data colonialism, where sensitive data is stored and controlled outside the continent. By building local cloud capacity, both companies say they are laying the foundation for true digital sovereignty.
Speaking on the development, Krish Ranganath, CEO of UniCloud Africa, said the collaboration is central to the company’s ‘One Cloud, One Africa’ vision. He explained that hosting infrastructure within Africa will reduce latency, improve service delivery, and allow businesses to pay in local currencies, while maintaining global standards of security and compliance.
According to him, the initiative will help eliminate risks linked to offshore cloud services, particularly around data privacy and regulatory uncertainty, which have long been challenges for African enterprises and public institutions.
“Our mission is to provide the definitive foundation for Africa’s digital and economic independence. By hosting our sovereign infrastructure within OADC’s world-class facilities, we are ensuring that African data remains on African soil. This partnership empowers our clients with low-latency access, local currency billing, and the security of ISO-certified, in-country data management that is tailor-made for the continent’s unique requirements,” Ranganath further explained.
On his part, Ayotunde Coker, CEO of OADC described the partnership as a critical step toward building a unified digital ecosystem across the continent. He noted that OADC’s Tier III-certified facilities will provide the reliability and scale needed to support next-generation technologies, including AI and big data.
“We firmly believe that fully localised cloud infrastructure is critical for economic growth and Africa’s digital future. OADC is committed to providing the essential building blocks for a truly unified African digital ecosystem. Partnering with UniCloud Africa allows us to support a platform that is driving the next wave of innovation, from AI acceleration to cost-predictability,” Coker stated.
The deal will leverage OADC’s growing footprint across key African markets. In Nigeria, the Lagos data centre campus will support the country’s fast-growing fintech and enterprise sectors. In Kinshasa, the partnership will introduce much-needed local cloud capacity to accelerate digital adoption in the DRC. Meanwhile, in South Africa, the companies will use a distributed network of facilities to provide robust primary and disaster recovery solutions.
Beyond infrastructure, the collaboration is expected to unlock new opportunities in emerging technologies. UniCloud Africa plans to roll out its GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) offering, enabling organisations across Africa to access high-performance computing power for AI, machine learning, and big data applications without the heavy upfront costs.
This approach could significantly lower the barriers to entry for startups, researchers, and enterprises looking to adopt advanced technologies, especially as global cloud providers often charge high fees for data transfer and foreign currency billing.
With zero data egress fees and pricing in local currencies, the partnership directly addresses one of the biggest cost challenges faced by African businesses using international cloud platforms.
The collaboration also aligns with broader efforts across Africa to build resilient digital infrastructure, support local innovation, and reduce reliance on external technology ecosystems. As more governments introduce data protection laws and localisation policies, demand for in-country cloud solutions is expected to rise sharply.
For UniCloud Africa and OADC, the partnership signals a long-term commitment to building a truly African-owned and operated digital backbone, one that not only supports economic growth but also ensures that the continent retains control over its most valuable digital assets.
