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Equinix Plans to Invest $140 million to Enhance Internet Access in the Southern Region of Nigeria
Equinix, a global leader in data centers, plans to invest $140 million to enhance internet access in Southern Nigeria over the next two years. This is part of their broader strategy to expand digital infrastructure across the region.
Equinix’s investment includes building a new data center in Port Harcourt, named PR1, and expanding their third facility in Lagos, LG3. The Port Harcourt center will be the first in the city and will also serve as a landing station for Meta’s 2Africa submarine cable. This cable will significantly increase bandwidth capacity in the region and reduce the reliance on Lagos for internet connectivity.
This move comes after Equinix acquired MainOne, a Nigerian company, for $320 million in 2022. Since then, they have been working to integrate MainOne’s operations and strengthen their presence in Nigeria. Currently, most of Nigeria’s internet infrastructure is concentrated in Lagos, which has created a digital divide between coastal areas and inland regions. By investing $140 million, Equinix aims to address this imbalance and promote digital growth across Southern Nigeria.
Nigeria’s digital journey has been remarkable. Since mobile phone licenses were first issued in 2001, the number of mobile subscribers has grown from zero to over 140 million. The rise of tower companies in 2012 helped operators scale up, while investments in fiber-optic networks and data centers further expanded the digital ecosystem. However, until recently, local data infrastructure mainly supported basic connectivity needs. The arrival of major global players like Equinix marked a shift toward integrating Nigeria into the global digital economy.
Equinix operates over 260 data centers worldwide, connected through a platform called Equinix Fabric. This system allows for secure and fast connections between data centers, cloud services, and enterprise networks. In Nigeria, there are eight submarine cable landings, including Google’s Equiano and Meta’s 2Africa cables—two of the world’s most advanced systems with capacities exceeding 100 terabits per second.
Despite these advancements, Nigeria still faces challenges with middle-mile infrastructure, the critical links between coastal landing stations and inland users. While cities like Lagos have strong connectivity, many interior regions remain underserved. As of January 2025, broadband penetration is only 45%, far below the target of 70% by the end of 2025. The World Bank estimates that Nigeria needs an additional 95,000 kilometers of fiber-optic cables to achieve full nationwide coverage.
Equinix’s investment to enhance internet access in Southern Nigeria aligns with efforts by Nigeria’s government to close this gap. The government recently launched a Broadband Alliance to develop a national fiber backbone. Private sector contributions like Equinix’s are seen as vital to achieving this vision.
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By launching PR1 in Port Harcourt and expanding LG3 in Lagos, Equinix is taking steps to diversify Nigeria’s digital infrastructure geographically. These projects will enhance internet access across Southern Nigeria while reducing Lagos’ dominance over bandwidth and cable access. The investment promises to open new opportunities for businesses and communities in the region while supporting Nigeria’s broader digital transformation goals.
Equinix’s commitment to invest $140 million shows their belief in Nigeria’s potential as a growing digital economy. With these developments, Southern Nigeria is poised for significant progress in internet connectivity and economic growth through improved access to cutting-edge technology solutions. This investment is not just about numbers; it’s about creating a future where everyone in Nigeria can access the internet easily and reliably, opening doors to new opportunities and growth.
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