Tag: Rack Centre

Carrier neutral data centre operator, Rack Centre, has said stressed the need for energy efficiency in data centre management.

Its Chief Executive Officer, Lars Johannisson, who spoke in Lagos during a media tour of its newly built 12megawatt (Mw) LGS2 Data Centre at Ikeja, said the company is ready for the Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution which he said is happening twice faster than personal computers (PCs) and the internet itself.

 He also said data protection is taking a firm footing in the country, saying the strength of the company rested on three Ps which are people, process and product.

He said the company is combining gas turbines with solar to ensure energy efficiency without compromising the environment.

He said the new facility will boost data sovereignty, reduce operating cost for businesses and spur economic growth.

Johannisson, said the facility, a multi-million-dollar investment, was intentionally designed and built to be energy efficient with the lowest Power Usage Efficiency (PUE) in the region and based on its use of a sustainable power generation mix of predominantly gas power, diesel and eventually solar, to manage the facility’s sustainability footprint.

 “Rack Centre has taken the innovative approach to embark on an energy sufficiency drive by installing gas turbines for our operations to complement the diesel-powered generators and now, with the upcoming solar power installation within our LGS2 Data Centre, we are the most energy sustainable data centre within the region,” he said.

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Johannisson said there is a massive growth opportunity in Nigeria for investment in data centres, adding that internet penetration and data centre presence are on the rise. He expressed satisfaction with the level of investment in data centres in Nigeria over the last few years, stating that this further confirms the huge opportunity in the entire data centre ecosystem.

“The decision to build this state-of-the-art 12MV IT load data centre, LGS2, was to help businesses experience seamless connectivity and cloud adoption while providing reliability, resilience and redundancy for business continuity. We know that our shareholders believe in Nigeria, and they know it is a good investment to propel the country forward regarding digital transformation,” he added.

He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to providing the necessary infrastructure and security architecture to help the country close the digital gap. He stated that the company has excelled in the last 12 years of operation in Nigeria to establish itself and excel in performance as the leading data centre facility in Nigeria and West Africa.

 “The new facility that we are commissioning, which is LGS2, is a significant step for us. Our LGS1 facility had 1.5 megawatt installed, but in the new LGS2 facility, we have installed 12Mw on top of that. Increasing our capacity from 1.5 to 12 megawatt, means that we are establishing ourselves as hyperscaler-AI ready data center in Nigeria, and we are essentially doubling the existing capacity of data centers in Nigeria. With the commissioning of our LGS2 facility, we’re doubling the installed base in Nigeria.

 “We have a firm belief in the operations in Nigeria since 2013. Again, we have a firm belief in the growth fundamentals in Nigeria. Cloudification and digitalisation are not just buzzwords, because they are real.

“When we look at the IT penetration in Nigeria, it still hovers around 48 per cent, but it’s growing every single year. The user behavior in Nigeria is not different compared to other locations. So we see the growth enabler in Nigeria,” he said.

Speaking about the growth potential of data centre in the country, Johannisson said: “Out of all data entres that exist in the world, two per cent exist in Africa. Out of the two per cent in Africa, one per cent is located in South Africa, while the other one per cent is located in the remaining 43 countries on the African continent, which signifies massive growth potential of data centre in Nigeria and the rest of Africa.”

Also speaking, Chief Sales Marketing Officer at Rack Centre, Folu Aderibigbe, said the new data centre facility would boost Nigeria’s data sovereignty, enhance digital transformation, and enable Nigeria to have control over data generated, stored and processed within the country. He also said the facility would significantly reduce operational costs (opex) for business owners that deal with data storage and processing.

“In terms of data sovereignty, the facility will help to keep data in Nigeria, thereby reducing capital flight to host data abroad, because most times before now you had to spend money in foreign currency to be able to get access to cloud applications. It will also help to reduce latency in terms of providing quicker transaction time for businesses, and it will also help to provide some form of reliability to businesses, including resilience, among others. So basically having put the facility in place, we are helping businesses to reduce operational costs, and increase productivity of both individuals and businesses,” Aderibigbe said.

Chief Operating Officer, Rack Centre, Ezekiel Egboye, said the new facility was designed and built in readiness for the future, which according to him, is really around Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Speaking about sustainability, Egboye said: “We as a business, we are very conscious of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) related pollution and that has driven our energy mix from the start. Clear processes, clear design, and clear implementation have been really thought about in what we’ve built in the Rack Centre today. We started with diesel, which is now very expensive and also not environmentally friendly. Gas is the way to go now. We’re currently running gas and we’re bringing in solar to bring that into the mix to give us a clear path into our sustainability journey. That also will be the first in sub-Saharan Africa, where the Rack Centre is operating with three sources of power to drive efficiency.”

The Tier III carrier and cloud neutral data centre facility, is hyperscale and Artificial Intelligence (AI-ready), and one of the most energy-efficient facilities in the West African region. It covers a white space of 3240sqm.

The facility has IT rooms of six data halls each of 2Mw IT load and 24 kw rack density, alongside four Meet-Me-Rooms.

Rack Centre, a tier III carrier and cloud neutral data centre, has welcomed Olla Cloud Service, a new private cloud service by Olla Systems Limited, to its facility. 

Hosting at Rack Centre, Olla Cloud Service runs on a state-of-the-art, cloud-enabled infrastructure for enterprise applications across diverse platforms including mission critical application, web applications as well as containerized applications using Kubernetes.

Chief Executive Officer, Rack Centre, Lars Johannisson, noted that the partnership with Olla Systems Limited reflected the company’s commitment to providing African businesses with high-quality cloud computing services.

He noted that Olla Systems would enjoy Rack Centre’s 13.5MW data centre campus facility, designed to meet the highest international standards and offering scalable solutions to Hyperscalers, Enterprises, and Cloud service providers.

Citing three distinct features of the data centre facility, he stated the 100  per cent uptime since inception, the facility’s AI-readiness and adoption of green practices. As part of its commitment to sustainability, the facility is equipped with energy-efficient systems, advanced cooling technologies to mitigate environmental impact and an optimally-designed feature to handle high-density workloads with precision.

With features such as N+2 high-efficiency cooling units, an integrated Building Management System (BMS) for optimal performance, and the lowest Power Usage Efficiency (PUE) in the region, the data centre campus facility combines capacity, sustainability, and innovation. This reinforces the position of Rack Centre as a leader in the Nigerian data centre market that will aid the development of Nigeria and West Africa’s digital ecosystem.

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Johannisson said: “With Olla Cloud Service hosting at Rack Centre, clients will experience fast performance and low latency, enabling businesses in Africa to access world-class cloud computing services within a secure and compliant local infrastructure”.

Chief Executive Officer, Olla Systems Limited, Olusola Adenuga, expressed enthusiasm about hosting at Rack Centre, noting that OllaCloud remains a groundbreaking private cloud solution for businesses.

While highlighting the benefits of the partnership between Rack Centre and Olla Systems, Adenuga disclosed that subscribing to OllaCloud Service is cost-effective to customers because of its local currency payment advantage. She also noted that the partnership between the duo provides businesses the opportunity to meet regulatory requirements of data residency, while enjoying world-class infrastructure as a service (IaaS) locally.

“Other benefits of hosting with OllaCloud include: 24/7 support, unparalleled performance, scalability and agility,” Adenuga said.

OllaCloud Service is the perfect fit for businesses with high-performance needs, from startups with rapid growth plans to enterprises with large-scale operations. Whether you need to migrate existing workloads or build new cloud-native applications, our solution provides the foundation for digital transformation.

• By Motunrayo Akintayo

The Chief Executive Officer of Rack Centre, Lars Johannisson, has restated identified innovation as a critical element to be leveraged to assure the country’s digital future.

He said the company is therefore committed to continually leverage innovation and technology to achieve this mission.

Rack Centre is a Tier III carrier and cloud-neutral data centre in West Africa.

Johannisson made this submission during a panel session entitled: “Evolving Data Centre Landscape: Innovations, Challenges, and Future Trends” at the Nigerian Peering & Interconnection Forum (ngPIF), held in Lagos.

While sharing the company’s vision towards advancing connectivity, fostering sustainable infrastructure, and harnessing the potential of cloud and AI technology to drive Nigeria’s economic growth, the CEO outlined ongoing efforts to create a resilient and scalable infrastructure that aligns with Nigeria’s rapid digital expansion.

He explained that the company is unwavering in its commitment to providing infrastructure that is not only scalable but also sustainable.

Describing the integration of solar power at its LGS2 facility as a classic example of its commitment to sustainability, he stated that the AI-ready data centre, designed to be one of the most energy-efficient facilities in Africa, reinforces Rack Centre’s goal to support sustainable digitisation in the region.

He noted that the company was developing an eco-friendly facility capable of supporting AI workloads, empowering businesses to innovate and scale.

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Commenting on the importance of connectivity, he disclosed that its open-access ecosystem has further enhanced network resilience, ensuring seamless connectivity even in challenging environments.

“Our infrastructure is designed to ensure that companies can rely on seamless connectivity, even in challenging circumstances, making Nigeria an attractive digital hub,” he added.

The session also included other distinguished panellists which include the Regional Executive of Africa Data Centres, Dr. Krishnan Ranganath; the Chief Executive Officer of Open Access Data Centres, Dr. Ayotunde Coker; the Chief Executive Officer of Kasi Cloud Datacentres, Johnson Agogbua; and General Manager, Technical Solutions and Managed Networks, MainOne, Oluwasayo Oshadami. They all shared complementary perspectives on Nigeria’s data centre landscape.

At the end of the session, panellists collectively agreed that lasting solutions are needed to address key challenges affecting the growth of data centres in Nigeria. Some of the challenges, according to them, include energy efficiency, expansion of rural connectivity, and the growing infrastructure requirements of AI in Africa’s digital landscape.

 Cloud-neutral data centre, Rack Centre, has reaffirmed its commitment to contributing to Nigeria’s digital economy by expanding its state-of-the-art data centre facilities and creating more digital jobs.

This development, according to the company, is aimed at enabling sustainable digitization and fostering job creation.

Speaking on the expansion and the company’s strategic focus of driving efficiency and cost optimization, its CEO Lars Johannisson, said the company aims to provide a competitive edge in the digital landscape to enable businesses to adapt quickly to changing market dynamics.

“The construction of the LGS2 data centre which is in response to the increasing digital transformation needs of businesses across critical sectors, including finance, oil and gas, manufacturing, and the public sector is expected to create new jobs, thereby establishing the company’s role as a key player in fostering skilled employment opportunities for IT professionals in the region,” Johannisson said.

He noted that the expansion is a testament to the company’s focus on sustainability as well as a reflection of its mission to lead the digital infrastructure sector while prioritizing environmental responsibility, which can be seen in the energy-efficient design for the facility and its Power Usage Efficiency (PUE) of 1.35, one of the lowest in the region.

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“As part of Rack Centre’s strategic focus on sustainable digitalization and cost optimization, we are dedicated to delivering value-driven digital solutions that not only empower our clients but also contribute to a sustainable future. Our latest data centre expansion aims to reinforce our commitment to providing world-class infrastructure that will support businesses in optimizing their services and advancing their digital agendas,” he added.

Rack Centre’s technical expertise has been widely recognized buttressed by various international awards won over the last 10 years. In 2018, the company’s Head of Data Centre Services was decorated with the prestigious Data Centre Manager of the Year Award at the Data Centre Dynamics (DCD) Global Awards 2023. Also, in 2019, the company’s Operations Team was awarded the Operations Team of the Year by the same organization. These feats underscore the company’s excellence in service delivery and operational standards.

West Africa’s carrier and cloud-neutral data centre, Rack Centre, has entered into a channel partner agreement with Cofinity Group, Inc. (CGI) to facilitate enterprise access to its robust, state-of-the-art data centre infrastructure in Lagos Nigeria.

Speaking on the deal, Rack Centre’s CEO, Lars Johannisson, said: “This strategic agreement leverages CGI’s vast network and experience in the data centre industry to showcase the enormous benefits enterprises can attain by colocating in Rack Centre’s 13.5Mw data centre campus. CGI is known for their transformative impact helping its data centre clients evaluate new market opportunities over the past 15 years.  We are excited to partner with the CGI team as their insights and experience in the data centre industry will be particularly valuable to African enterprises contemplating data centre colocation solutions”.

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In his remarks, the President of Cofinity Group, Inc., Ray Lawless, said: “As the pace of technology adoption and digitization is accelerating in Africa, the need for highly secure data centre facilities with exceptional levels of power availability, redundancy, and connectivity is becoming increasingly important for enterprises. We look forward to featuring Rack Centre’s state-of-the-art facilities in Nigeria, allowing enterprises to securely grow their business.”

Rack Centre, West Africa’s Leading Carrier and Cloud neutral data centre, has announced the successful completion of its transformative digital skills training programme, which empowered a total of 150 youths and small and medium enterprises with digital skills.

The programme was designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the ever-evolving digital economy.

The programme provided participants with practical hands-on training and mentorship from industry experts. Through innovative curriculum and collaborative learning opportunities.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the beneficiaries in Lagos, the Finance Director, Rack Centre, Ms. Nozipho Sibanda, commended the beneficiaries for going through the rigors of the training to acquire the skills and knowledge, noting that this opportunity would certainly mark a significant impact in their career and life journey.

Sibanda said the CSR initiative is targeted at helping small businesses get the desired skills and knowledge necessary to move their businesses forward.

She reiterated the company’s commitment to offering more support to beneficiaries of the training going forward, adding that the training has, no doubt, provided the competitive edge for both the SMEs and individuals in managing their businesses or securing job opportunities.

“We are excited about this crop of young people who have excelled. We will follow up with you in the next couple of months to ensure that you settle in the office where you have been assigned to work. I also implore mentors to provide guidance where necessary. As beneficiaries of this training programme, you should tap into the resources available with your mentors. We want you to succeed, and we want you to be economically viable from what you have learnt,” she said.

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In her remarks, Chief Executive Officer of The Workplace Centre Limited (TWPC) Tech, Dr. Mojisola Olateru-Olagbegi, revealed that SMEs remain a major driver of the economy, hence the need to appreciate Rack Centre for taking the bold step to empower the youth with requisite skills and knowledge that can assist them to be self-reliant.

She emphasised the significance of technology to the growth of businesses and careers in today’s economy.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer, United Way Greater Nigeria, Deola Durodola, revealed that the training focused on several digital skills that include Graphic design, Digital Marketing, Front-end Web Development, Networking and Security and Soft skills, stating that they are designed not only to bolster the capabilities of these individuals or SMEs but impact the economy positively.

A beneficiary of the programme, Adenopo Folashade, applauded Rack Centre for the training opportunities, promising that she would deploy the skills to enhance economic prosperity for herself and her family.

Rack Centre, West Africa‘s Best-connected Carrier and Cloud neutral data centre has announced the appointment of Lars Johannisson as its new Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Johannisson, an accomplished leader with extensive experience in transformative industries, assumes the role effective January 2024.

According to the Group Chief Executive Officer of Rack Centre, Jasper Lankhorst, the company Is excited to welcome Lars into the leadership team of Rack Centre with his wealth of experience and robust industry knowledge.

“We are delighted to welcome Lars Johannisson as the new Chief Executive Officer of Rack Centre. His wealth of experience and strategic leadership will propel Rack Centre to new heights. I have full confidence in Lars’s ability to steer our company towards continued success, and I look forward to working closely with him to advance our position as a leading data centre provider,” said Lankhorst.

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Speaking on his new role as the CEO of Rack Centre, Johannisson highlighted the company’s market leadership and its leading position as a Carrier and Cloud neutral Tier-III Data centre in Nigeria. He expressed his commitment to contributing to the digital ecosystem growth in Nigeria and is delighted to be part of a team dedicated to launching a new hyperscale-ready, 12MW data centre facility in Lagos in 2024.

Lars has extensive experience working in Telecom, IT Delivery, Managed Services, and Digital skilling. He is passionate about leading organisations in transformative industries in Africa over the last 14 years and has executed large B2B projects in more than 30 Sub-Saharan countries.