Data Centers in Cotonou
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Cotonou – Gateway to West African Data Distribution
Executive Summary
Cotonou serves as the essential digital bridge for organizations targeting the Gulf of Guinea and landlocked markets like Niger and Burkina Faso. It offers a strategic landing point for international subsea capacity, making it a critical choice for regional network resilience and expanding digital footprints. Choosing this market ensures a reliable entry point into a high-growth corridor where localized infrastructure is becoming a competitive necessity.
Cotonou: At A Glance
| Factor | Rating / Data | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Global Connectivity Grade | B | Stable subsea access as of September 2025. |
| Direct Cloud On-Ramps | 0 – as of September 2025 | Lagos serves as the nearest primary cloud hub. |
| Power Cost | US$0.14/kWh – as of September 2025 | High reliance on fossil fuels affects pricing. |
| Disaster Risk | Moderate (5.3/10) – as of September 2025 | Seasonal flooding is the primary environmental concern. |
| Tax Incentives | No – as of September 2025 | No specific digital infrastructure breaks available. |
| Sales Tax | 18.00% VAT – as of September 2025 | Standard national value-added tax applies. |
Network & Connectivity Ecosystem
Cotonou operates as a centralized interconnection hub for Benin and the surrounding region. The infrastructure landscape is maturing, with a focus on serving domestic demand and regional transit requirements.
Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality: Carrier count: ~5–10 carriers as of September 2025. The market features a mix of regional telecommunications leaders and local service providers. While neutrality is still developing, existing facilities offer the interconnection options needed for international partners to establish a presence.
Direct Cloud On-Ramps: 0, enabling access to 0 cloud regions as of September 2025. There are no direct on-ramps for AWS, Google Cloud (GCP), or Microsoft Azure within the city limits. Enterprises typically reach these global services via private network interconnects or dedicated wave services routed through Lagos.
Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): The Benin Internet Exchange (Bénin-IX) is the primary local facility, ensuring that domestic traffic stays within the country. This reduces latency and transit costs for local providers while improving performance for end users as of September 2025.
Bare Metal: Resilient bare metal services are available through regional providers and global specialists like OVHcloud or Leaseweb. These options provide dedicated compute resources for workloads that require specific hardware performance as of September 2025.
Power Analysis
Energy management in Cotonou requires a strategic approach due to the current generation mix and cost structure.
Average Cost Of Power: Industrial electricity is priced at US$0.14/kWh as of September 2025. The local energy mix is approximately 98.4% fossil fuels and 1.6% renewables. Organizations must prioritize cooling efficiency to manage these operational costs effectively.
Power Grid Reliability: The electrical grid is well-engineered in major commercial zones like Ganhi and the Port of Cotonou. Critical facilities in these districts often utilize redundant feeds and multi-substation support to maintain uptime during periods of high demand as of September 2025.
Market Access, Business & Tax Climate
Cotonou provides a stable environment for firms looking to capture market share in West Africa.
Proximity To Key Business Districts: Data centers are located near the Ganhi district and the Port of Cotonou as of September 2025. This positioning is vital for logistics, banking, and government sectors that require low-latency access to primary databases and transaction systems.
Regional Market Reach: Cotonou is the logistics gateway for landlocked nations. The local infrastructure supports a regional population of over 30 million people, providing a necessary digital entry point for expanding markets in Niger and Burkina Faso as of September 2025.
Tax Advantage For Data Centers: There are no specific tax incentives for data center operators in Benin as of September 2025. Businesses operate within the standard corporate fiscal framework, which is geared toward general economic development.
Natural Disaster Risk
Cotonou has an overall risk score of Moderate (5.3/10) as of September 2025. The primary challenges are related to water management and seasonal climate patterns.
- River Flood: 6.6 – The most significant hazard due to seasonal rainfall patterns as of September 2025.
- Coastal Flood: 1.9 – A secondary risk for this port city, generally managed through local defenses.
- Drought: 0.9 – A minor risk with negligible impact on indoor data center operations.
- Earthquake: 0.1 – Seismic activity is extremely rare in this geography.
Other natural hazards are considered minor or are not listed for this location as of September 2025. Site-specific flood mitigation is recommended to maintain long-term operational resilience.
