Rack Centre, one of West Africa’s leading carrier and cloud neutral data centres, has announced its sponsorship of the upcoming 2023 Nigerian Peering and Interconnection Forum (ngPIF). Taking place in Lagos from October 25 to 26, 2023, the event aims to drive internet development and connectivity in Nigeria by bringing together industry leaders, decision-makers, and stakeholders to discuss the latest trends in peering and interconnection.
The ngPIF is a two-day forum that will feature a range of sessions including panel discussions, workshops, and keynotes. It provides a platform for experts to share their experiences and insights on the economics of network interconnection and peering, highlighting the importance of direct connectivity between networks in reducing latency, improving performance, and lowering costs for users.
Rack Centre’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Ezekiel Egboye, expressed the company’s pride in sponsoring ngPIF, emphasizing the crucial role of peering and interconnection in the development of Nigeria’s internet ecosystem. By enabling direct connectivity between networks, peering and interconnection have the potential to drive the growth of the Nigerian internet infrastructure.
In line with its commitment to expanding its presence in the region, Rack Centre is constructing a new state-of-the-art data centre, Rack Centre LGS 2. This will be a hyperscale and AI-ready facility, located on a sprawling 20,000 square metres green field site in Lagos. The new data centre will significantly increase Rack Centre’s IT Load capacity to an impressive 13.5MW, further supporting the growth of the data hub and its role in the evolving digital society.
Rack Centre’s ecosystem already includes 65 telecommunication carriers, internet service providers, global Tier 1 networks, and pan Africa international carriers. The company is also directly interconnected to all major subsea cables serving the South Atlantic Coast of Africa, such as Equiano, and plans to connect to 2Africa in the future. These connections solidify Rack Centre’s position as the most connected facility in the region, enhancing its ability to serve as a cornerstone for the rapidly evolving digital society.
Furthermore, Rack Centre holds the distinction of being the first International Finance Corporation (IFC) EDGE-certified data centre in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This certification solidifies its commitment to sustainability and makes it the first green certified data centre in Africa.
The sponsorship of the ngPIF by Rack Centre signifies its dedication to driving internet development and connectivity in Nigeria. With its cutting-edge infrastructure, network connections, and commitment to sustainability, Rack Centre is well-positioned to support the growth of the Nigerian internet ecosystem.
