SMART Africa is a bold and innovative commitment from African Heads of State and Government to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development on the continent. The initiative aims to leverage information and communication technologies (ICTs) for socio-economic development in Africa. Djibouti as a country and Djibouti Telecom has been actively involved in this initiative, contributing to the development of data centers and ICT infrastructure in the region.
Smart Africa: Background and Objectives:
Smart Africa was launched in 2014 with the goal of driving Africa’s digital transformation through ICTs. The initiative is based on the belief that ICTs have the potential to drive economic growth, improve access to digital services, foster innovation, and promote collaboration among African countries. The Smart Africa Alliance has since grown to include 36 African countries that represent over 1 billion people.
Our Role in Data Centers and ICT Infrastructure:
Djibouti Telecom has played a crucial role in the development of data centers and ICT infrastructure in the country and East African region. One of our notable initiatives is the Djibouti Data Center, which is a state-of-the-art data center that serves as a regional hub for ICT services in East Africa. The Djibouti Data Center has been pivotal in boosting the ICT ecosystem in Djibouti and the surrounding regions, attracting international investments and driving economic growth.
We have also been actively involved in expanding and improving ICT infrastructure in Djibouti. The new RAS DIKA data center will be launching later this year and situated in Djibouti City – a brand new Tier 4 carrier neutral data center facility in East Africa with direct access to all major international and regional cable systems connecting Europe, the Middle East, and Asia markets with Africa. Furthermore, plans are in place to add a further data center ‘Djibouti City 2’ providing significant improvements in network resilience, latency and reliability with geographically diverse cable options
These efforts have contributed to the overall development of ICT infrastructure in Djibouti, making it a strategic ICT hub in the region.
Our Contributions to Smart Africa:
As a leading player in the ICT sector in Djibouti, our contributions to Smart Africa have been significant, aligning with the initiative’s objectives of promoting ICTs for socio-economic development. Our expertise in data centers and ICT infrastructure has played a crucial role in advancing the ICT ecosystem in Djibouti and the surrounding regions, providing a solid foundation for Smart Africa’s initiatives.
By expanding connectivity, improving telecommunications services, and promoting digital transformation in key sectors, we have helped bridge the digital divide, enhance access to ICTs, and promote inclusive development. These efforts have contributed to the overall ICT ecosystem in Djibouti, making us a strategic partner in Smart Africa’s vision for a digitally empowered Africa.
This is just the start of a long journey and as we continue our efforts in driving ICT-enabled socio-economic development, we are highly committed to playing an even bigger role in shaping the future of ICTs in Africa and driving digital transformation across the continent.