South Africa: Sentech Plans Data Center Business in South Africa

State-owned South African broadcast infrastructure corporation intends to enter the colocation data center market. Sentech's chief executive officer, Mlamli Booi, told ITWeb this past week that the company will upgrade its current footprint and expand nationwide.  According to ITWeb's interview with Booi, the company intends to consolidate the excess capacity of publicly-funded data centers and provide processing, data facilities, and cloud computing capacity. Sentech will convert its existing Nasrec-based Tier II data center to a Tier III facility during the first phase of this plan. The upgrade will be finished and relaunched by the end of the year. However, no information was provided regarding locations, specifications, or investments.

Sentech, which is owned by the state, originated as a technical division of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) that was responsible for signal distribution services. In addition to operating approximately 200 transmitter high sites, the company also provides internet access, data center, networking, and other connectivity services. Sentech offers transmission solutions for commercial and public broadcasters in the country, including more than 150 community radio stations. Nasrec is a Johannesburg suburb in the Gauteng region of the metropolis. The company recently solicited bids for two 250kW chillers, but the extent of its data center is unknown. Sentech has previously stated that it intends to install AWS Outposts at its Nasrec facility. As part of a government consolidation initiative, the company will consolidate with state-owned digital infrastructure firm Broadband Infraco (BBI). Additionally, Sentech intends to acquire and launch a communications satellite.