Data Centers in Lusaka
2 locations found
Need Help?
Tell us about your needs and our team of experts will help you find and choose the perfect Data Center and solution at the best price.
Lusaka – Connecting the Southern African Interior
Executive Summary
Lusaka represents the primary terrestrial crossroad for fiber routes linking South Africa to East and Central Africa. This market is a strategic choice for operators and enterprises prioritizing regional data sovereignty and low-latency access to eight bordering nations. Positioning infrastructure here secures a central foothold in one of the continent's most critical digital transit corridors.
Lusaka: At A Glance
| Factor | Rating / Data | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Global Connectivity Grade | B | Strong terrestrial fiber links to regional subsea landing points. |
| Direct Cloud On-Ramps | 0 – as of September 2025 | Nearest major hub is Johannesburg. |
| Power Cost | $0.09/kWh – as of September 2025 | Competitive rates dominated by hydroelectric generation. |
| Disaster Risk | Moderate (4.6/10) – as of September 2025 | Primary concerns are environmental and health related. |
| Tax Incentives | No – as of September 2025 | Standard corporate frameworks apply; no specific incentives. |
| Sales Tax | 16% VAT – as of September 2025 | Standard Zambian value-added tax rate. |
Network & Connectivity Ecosystem
Lusaka functions as a high-traffic intersection for landlocked regional connectivity, serving as a critical pass-through for north-south data flows.
Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality: Carrier count: over 5. The market hosts a mix of regional giants and local providers, ensuring a competitive environment for bandwidth procurement as of September 2025.
Direct Cloud On-Ramps: Over 0, enabling access to 0 cloud regions. There are currently no direct on-ramps for AWS, Google Cloud (GCP), or Microsoft Azure. Private extensions and dedicated waves to Johannesburg are the standard for high-performance cloud access as of September 2025.
Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): The Zambia Internet Exchange (ZIXP) keeps domestic traffic local, reducing latency and transit costs for the domestic market as of September 2025.
Bare Metal: Localized high-performance compute is available through providers such as Latitude.sh, supporting workloads that require proximity to the Southern African interior as of September 2025.
Power Analysis
Zambia offers a unique power profile characterized by sustainable generation and significant regional cost advantages.
Average Cost Of Power: Industrial electricity is approximately $0.09/kWh, as of September 2025. This cost reflects a heavy reliance on hydropower, providing a significant competitive edge over neighboring markets with higher energy tariffs.
Power Grid Reliability: The grid is well-engineered with heavy reliance on hydroelectric sources. While sustainable, site selection usually prioritizes multi-substation support and reliable onsite backup to manage seasonal fluctuations as of September 2025.
Market Access, Business & Tax Climate
As the primary economic engine of Zambia, Lusaka is the logical starting point for reaching the country's maturing digital sectors.
Proximity To Key Business Districts: Data centers are centrally located near the Lusaka Central Business District and the Leopard Hill area. This places infrastructure near financial institutions and government hubs that drive local demand.
Regional Market Reach: Lusaka serves as a digital crossroads for eight bordering nations. It is a purpose-built site for regional content caching, disaster recovery, and terrestrial transit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond.
Tax Advantage For Data Centers: While specific incentives are currently unavailable, the predictable tax framework provides clarity for long-term planning. The stability of the 16% VAT rate helps businesses project capital expenditure with confidence as of September 2025.
Natural Disaster Risk
Lusaka maintains a Moderate risk profile with an overall score of 4.6/10 as of September 2025. The risk environment is defined by environmental factors rather than geological instability.
- Epidemic: 6.3 (High)
- Drought: 5.1 (Moderate)
- River Flood: 4.8 (Moderate)
- Earthquake: 2.5 (Low)
As an inland metro, there is no material risk from coastal flooding or tsunamis. Risks are generally managed through specialized cooling systems and elevated site selection to mitigate seasonal river flooding as of September 2025.
