SB Digital, a new digital investment platform for the development and continuous investment in data centre assets across the continent of Africa is to launch soon. The platform which will be headquartered in Casablanca, Morocco, is the brainchild of Stronghold Global Finance and Broadgate Development. SB Digital aims to tap into the huge investment opportunity in Africa’s communications sector.
Africa presently offers one of the most exciting digital infrastructure markets. The continent currently has less than one percent of the world’s data centre capacity. Mobile internet users are forecast to grow from 200m to 475m by 2025 and data growth to quadruple over the next four years. The need to add value and to benefit from this tremendous opportunity via direct investment in capacity building and investment in the new Data Centre facilities cannot be over-emphasised.
SB Digital Infrastructure is a joint effort between the London based Stronghold Global Finance and Broadgate RE Devco (Holdings) Ltd. The two companies have partnered to work and develop Africa’s communications sector through SB Digital Infrastructure whose management team will be led by Peter Young as Chief Executive Officer. Young has extensive experience in real estate development in Africa. He has previously founded and managed Laurus Development Partners, a portfolio company of Actis Private Equity, which delivered many large-scale, institutional, commercial projects for various Tier1 Investors in Africa, over the last six years.
This is a unique partnership that combines the financial and project development strength of Stronghold and the real estate development & construction delivery experience of Broadgate, to respond efficiently, to the needs of the hyperscalers, colocators and other users, requiring data facilities in this fast-growing market.SB Digital’s business strategy is to initially deliver a network of eight Data Centres, comprising 300 MegaWatts of installed capacity across the Tier1 African cities & business conurbations.
SB Digital develops, finances and retains the long-term Investment for income-growth, it adopts a flexible approach to possible JV partnerships or owner build-to-suit to accommodate the specific requirements of the hyperscalers or colocation operating companies. SB Digital’s ambition is to facilitate the increased development of Data Centres across Africa and also to lessen the risks associated with investments in new digital infrastructural developments in Africa by new international investors.
Joint Statement:
“SB Digital is already in the process of delivering facilities with a new national telecoms company to deliver purpose built real estate and infrastructure. The facilities are to consist of three data centres of 45 MW; head office of 18,000 sm and other regional training/call centres & retail. Together, with three new data centres across Sub Saharan Africa. SB Digital have a high-quality management and consultant team with International expertise and track record in Digital Infrastructure development, construction and management, delivery”. – Peter Young CEO of SB Digital Infrastructure
Tohib Iyiola CEO of Stronghold Global Finance:
“SB Digital significantly reflects Stronghold Global Finance’s mandate to fund bankable opportunities in emerging markets. Digital infrastructure, being germaine and fundamental to overall economic development of Africa, we intend to participate in the process of connecting African countries to the digital economy. We aim to stimulate commerce and foreign investment by delivering such facilities for and on behalf of the world’s leading hyperscalers.” – Tohib Iyiola CEO of Stronghold Global Finance
About Stronghold
Stronghold Global Finance (UK) Limited is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 950483). Having its registered address at 1 Knightsbridge Green, London, SW1X 7QA, it Is an appointed representative of G10 Capital Limited, whose authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 648953).
