Africa, like the rest of the world, is witnessing the reshaping of industries and economies as artificial intelligence and generative AI gain traction. Wojtek Piorko, MD for Africa at Vertiv, says preparing for the complexities of AI demands has become essential for local businesses, and a robust, scalable data centre infrastructure is the foundation on which Africa can build its AI future.
Wojtek Piorko, MD for Africa at Vertiv.
According to Gartner[1], global spending on data centre systems is expected to increase by almost a quarter (23.2%) in 2025, driven largely by artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives. With the right strategies in place, Africa’s data centre operators can leverage AI to drive operational efficiency and long-term sustainability, positioning the continent as a leader in innovation and digital transformation, Piorko says.
Vertiv has set out a framework of ‘AI Imperatives’, which offers organisations on the continent a strategic roadmap to align their data centre infrastructure with the realities of AI’s requirements and growing demands on data centres.
Transforming operations for AI
More than the technology itself, AI represents new ways for businesses to innovate. From agriculture to healthcare and education, industries across Africa are finding ways to use AI in their operations. However, this requires a fundamental overhaul of existing data centre operating models and infrastructure.
Piorko says critical infrastructure challenges will likely include: retrofitting existing data centre infrastructure in a transformative way, accommodating growing rack power densities, deploying liquid and hybrid air-liquid cooling, understanding that liquid distribution is as critical as power distribution, and ensuring power availability and intelligent grid interaction.
First mover advantages
Power and cooling systems remain critical challenges for data centres in Africa, especially as AI workloads increase energy consumption and generate significant heat. Overcoming the challenge of the separate management of power and cooling systems can lead to a first mover advantage.
Innovative cooling solutions, such as liquid cooling, are gaining ground globally and are well-suited to Africa’s high-density environments. According to the Dell’Oro Group[2], the market for liquid cooling is expected to grow to US$15 billion over the next five years.
Driving efficiency and sustainability
The ‘AI efficiency paradox’ – which highlights the conflict between AI's mounting computational demands and the urgent need for sustainability in data centre operations – is particularly pronounced in Africa. Piorko suggests that local energy constraints could mean that concerns around AI’s energy-intensive nature require creative solutions. For instance, the integration of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, can help to reduce dependency on traditional power grids, as well as lowering operational costs and contributing to sustainability goals.
Embracing change
Turning to AI implementation, a detailed plan is needed to differentiate between calculated risks and reckless decisions. A deep understanding of critical factors plays a significant role in enabling businesses to approach innovation in infrastructure with confidence. This includes knowing what is technically possible with regard to combining new and existing technologies, how to get the most from existing infrastructure investments when retrofitting for AI, and planning today's ‘AI factory’ with a view towards future transformation that will be required as densities continue to accelerate.
Planning for Africa’s digital growth
Africa’s digital future depends on developing infrastructure that can handle increasing density and computational workloads. This requires investment in high-performance computing (HPC) technologies that support high rack densities – expected to exceed 100 kW per rack – and are scalable enough to adapt to the next wave of AI models and applications.
Navigating the AI era in Africa
The path to an AI-enabled future in Africa is not without challenges. Organisations will need to balance legacy infrastructure with new technologies, address power and cooling constraints, and ensure that sustainability remains a priority. However, Piorko says, those that embrace change and strategically align their operations with AI’s demands will manage the AI era successfully and can lead Africa into a new age of technological transformation.
References
[1] https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2025-01-21-gartner-forecasts-worldwide-it-spending-to-grow-9-point-8-percent-in-2025
[2] https://www.delloro.com/news/ata-center-liquid-cooling-market-set-to-go-mainstream-and-top-15-b-over-the-next-five-years/
For more information visit: www.vertiv.com/en-emea/
