Africa's largest standalone data center now operational after Teraco completes JB4 expansion
Teraco Expands JB4 Data Centre in South Africa, Setting New Standards for African Data Centres
Teraco, a Digital Realty Company, has recently completed the expansion of its JB4 Bredell Campus data centre in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, South Africa. This expansion marks a significant milestone, making JB4 the largest standalone data centre ever constructed in Africa, with a capacity of 50MW of critical IT power load [1][2][3][4].
The new phase at JB4 comprises six data halls, each supporting 5MW of allocated critical IT power load. This expansion significantly advances Africa’s capacity for data hosting, interconnection, and sustainable operations.
JB4 is designed with a closed-loop chilled water system that enables free air cooling, combined with AI-enabled cooling management to optimize power usage effectiveness (PUE). This innovative design achieves industry-leading PUE, significantly reducing energy consumption while using zero water during ongoing cooling, a crucial aspect in Africa’s water-scarce context [1][3][4].
The data centre is connected to Teraco's Isando Campus connectivity hub (JB1/JB3/JB5) located 20 kilometres away via multiple fibre paths. As Africa’s largest interconnection hub, Teraco’s data centre allows access to various network providers, regional Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), cloud on-ramps, and content delivery networks, facilitating broad connectivity and ecosystem growth [1].
The expansion aligns with increasing cloud adoption and digital transformation trends in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, which are attracting significant investments and fueling economic growth in the digital sector [4]. The JB4 data centre will augment the existing portfolio of ISO 9001, ISO 27001, ISO 50001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, PCI-DSS, and ISAE3402 certified data centre facilities.
The data halls at JB4 support high-density deployments, including direct-to-chip liquid cooling for AI workloads, enabling cutting-edge technology hosting [2][3]. The first data hall in Africa to provide 5MW of critical IT load within a single data hall, JB4 is a significant addition to the sub-Saharan Africa’s data centre footprint.
The completion of the JB4 expansion follows the recent completion of Teraco's new hyperscale JB5 Isando facility, adding another 30MW of critical IT power load to Teraco's Isando Campus in Ekurhuleni. This expansion further strengthens South Africa’s role as a pivotal technology hub in Africa by providing a state-of-the-art hyperscale facility that integrates with Teraco’s broader network.
Jan Hnizdo, Teraco CEO, states that the company is well-positioned to continue its exceptional growth due to sustained demand from enterprises and hyperscale clients for hybrid cloud and cloud deployments. The JB4 data centre, with its advanced sustainability features and high-density capabilities, is a testament to Teraco's commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the digital economy in Africa.
References: [1] Teraco. (2021). Teraco Expands JB4 Data Centre in South Africa. Retrieved from https://www.teraco.co.za/news/teraco-expands-jb4-data-centre-in-south-africa/ [2] Teraco. (2021). Teraco JB4 Bredell Campus Data Centre. Retrieved from https://www.teraco.co.za/data-centres/jb4-bredell-campus/ [3] ITWeb. (2021). Teraco expands JB4 data centre in South Africa. Retrieved from https://www.itweb.co.za/content/6K5c0NnZ5YK39Gx [4] MyBroadband. (2021). Teraco completes JB4 data centre expansion in South Africa. Retrieved from https://mybroadband.co.za/news/business-news/394558-teraco-completes-jb4-data-centre-expansion-in-south-africa.html
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