Digital Realty has officially expanded its footprint in East Africa with the launch of its new 6.4-megawatt (MW) Nairobi Two Data Center (NBO2). Built alongside the existing Nairobi One (NBO1) facility, the new site significantly expands the company’s infrastructure and interconnection capabilities in the region.

The expansion coincides with the full transition of iColo to the Digital Realty brand across Kenya and Mozambique, integrating local operations under the global platform.

The expanded Nairobi campus aims to meet escalating demand driven by rapid cloud adoption, enterprise digitization, and strict local data sovereignty requirements. With the addition of NBO2, the facility offers enhanced density and connectivity for hyper-scalers, local businesses, and global enterprises.

Key features of the updated Nairobi campus include:

  • Extensive Connectivity: Direct access to over 100 networks and two major internet exchange points.
  • Redundant Routes: Integration with a satellite teleport, offering alternative routing options to ensure resilient connectivity in areas with limited terrestrial infrastructure.
  • Global Integration: Direct integration into PlatformDIGITAL®, Digital Realty’s global data center platform spanning more than 300 facilities across 30+ countries.

Local and regional leadership highlighted the facility’s role in advancing East Africa’s position in the global digital economy.

“The opening of NBO2 and our transition to Digital Realty are part of one story: the continued growth of Kenya’s digital economy and iColo’s evolution within a global platform,” noted Wanja Muriithi, Country General Manager for Kenya. “By combining our strong local ecosystem in Nairobi with Digital Realty’s global brand, we are giving customers the ability to grow in Kenya while connecting with broader global communities.”

Marcel Louw, Managing Director for Africa at Digital Realty, emphasized the structural importance of localized infrastructure:

“Digital transformation depends on infrastructure that is local, connected, and globally scalable. With NBO2 now live, Digital Realty is strengthening Nairobi’s position as a gateway for East Africa and extending the value of PlatformDIGITAL® to customers seeking resilient colocation, interconnection, and hybrid IT solutions.”

As data gravity challenges and AI workloads grow across the continent, the NBO2 expansion positions Nairobi as a foundational hub for hybrid IT deployments serving East Africa and beyond.