Data Centers in Mombasa
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Mombasa – East Africa's Subsea Cable Gateway
Mombasa is the primary interconnection point for East Africa, serving as the landing station for numerous subsea cables connecting the continent to the rest of the world. This strategic importance makes it the ideal location for businesses requiring low-latency access to regional markets and international networks. Its concentration of connectivity assets provides a resilient foundation for deploying content, cloud services, and enterprise applications across Kenya and neighboring countries.
Mombasa: At A Glance
| Factor | Rating / Data | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Global Connectivity Grade | B | Strong subsea cable access, but limited terrestrial diversity creates regional dependency. |
| Direct Cloud On-Ramps | 0 – as of September 2025 | Access is available via network extensions to hubs like Johannesburg or Dubai. |
| Power Cost | $0.12/kWh – as of September 2025 | Driven by a national grid with an exceptionally high renewable energy mix. |
| Disaster Risk | High (6/10) – as of September 2025 | Primary risks include drought, epidemic, and projected conflict. |
| Tax Incentives | Yes | VAT exemptions are available for specific IT and data center equipment. |
| Sales Tax | 16% VAT – as of September 2025 | Standard national rate applies to goods and services. |
Network & Connectivity Ecosystem
Mombasa’s connectivity is defined by its role as the landing point for the majority of East Africa’s subsea cables. This creates a dense and unique interconnection environment.
Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality: The market features over 11 carriers, as of September 2025. This density is concentrated in a few key facilities that serve as the primary gateways for traffic entering and leaving the region.
Direct Cloud On-Ramps: There are no direct public cloud on-ramps within Mombasa, as of September 2025. Businesses connect to cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure through dedicated network links to major hubs in South Africa or Europe, or via local partners offering private connectivity solutions.
Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): The Kenya Internet Exchange Point (KIXP) is the dominant peering platform. Its presence in Mombasa allows local and international networks to exchange traffic efficiently, reducing latency and transit costs for users across the region.
Bare Metal: Bare metal server options are available from providers focusing on emerging markets. Companies like Hivelocity can provide dedicated server solutions within the region, enabling compute resources to be placed close to the connectivity edge.
Power Analysis
Kenya's power infrastructure is characterized by a strong commitment to renewable energy and improving grid stability, though challenges remain in certain areas.
Average Cost Of Power: Industrial power in Mombasa averages around $0.12/kWh, as of September 2025. This competitive pricing is supported by a national energy mix composed of approximately 90% renewable sources, primarily geothermal and hydroelectric power.
Power Grid Reliability: The power grid supporting Mombasa's key industrial and data center zones is generally reliable. Major colocation facilities provide extensive redundancy with multi-megawatt generator and UPS systems to guarantee uptime and protect against any grid fluctuations.
Market Access, Business & Tax Climate
Mombasa provides a strategic base for accessing both the Kenyan domestic market and the broader East and Central African economic community.
Proximity To Key Business Districts: Data centers in Mombasa are strategically located to support the city's port operations, logistics companies, and financial services sector. This proximity provides low-latency connectivity crucial for trade and real-time data processing.
Regional Market Reach: As the primary subsea cable landing hub, Mombasa is the digital gateway for over 300 million people across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Ethiopia. Colocating here provides the fastest possible access to this large and growing consumer market.
Tax Advantage For Data Centers: Kenya offers tax incentives, including Value Added Tax (VAT) exemptions on specific IT hardware and data center equipment. This policy reduces the capital expenditure required for deploying new infrastructure, making investment more attractive.
Natural Disaster Risk
Mombasa has a high overall risk profile, according to the INFORM Risk Index, with a score of 6 out of 10, as of September 2025. The risk is driven more by human and vulnerability factors than by natural hazards alone.
The most significant natural hazard risks for the region are:
- Drought (6.7/10)
- River Flood (5.1/10)
- Tsunami (3.2/10)
- Earthquake (2.8/10)
While tropical cyclone risk is negligible, the coastal location makes tsunami and coastal flooding relevant considerations for infrastructure planning and disaster recovery strategies.
