Data Centers in Lusaka

Lusaka – Emerging Hub for South-Central Africa

Executive Summary

Lusaka is establishing itself as a foundational digital market for south-central Africa. For businesses targeting Zambia and neighboring countries like the DRC, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, Lusaka offers a small but growing colocation footprint. This market is ideal for organizations prioritizing in-country data residency and latency reduction for local end-users.

Lusaka: At A Glance

Network & Connectivity Ecosystem

Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality The carrier ecosystem in Lusaka is in its early stages, with a limited number of providers available, as of September 2025. The market currently has one primary data center provider, making true carrier neutrality a developing feature. Early adoption provides an opportunity to establish strong partnerships with foundational network operators.

Direct Cloud On-Ramps There are no direct, in-market public cloud on-ramps in Lusaka, as of September 2025. Businesses requiring dedicated cloud access must connect privately to the nearest primary hubs, such as Johannesburg. This is typically achieved through long-haul wavelength or IP transit services from regional carriers.

Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) The local internet exchange, ZIXP (Zambia Internet Exchange Point), is central to keeping domestic traffic within the country. Peering at ZIXP significantly reduces latency for local users by preventing traffic from routing through international hubs.

Bare Metal Bare metal server options are available in Lusaka, meeting demand for dedicated, high-performance computing. Providers like Hivelocity offer solutions for companies needing direct hardware control without the capital expense of owning equipment.

Power Analysis

Average Cost Of Power The average industrial electricity cost in Lusaka is approximately $0.09/kWh, as of 2018. This competitive rate is a direct result of Zambia's power mix, which is nearly 90% hydropower. This cost advantage can lead to significantly lower operational expenditures for power-dense deployments.

Power Grid Reliability Zambia's power grid is heavily reliant on hydropower, which can be susceptible to seasonal variations and drought conditions. However, data center facilities in Lusaka are engineered with multi-layered redundancy, including UPS systems and diesel generators, to ensure consistent uptime.

Market Access, Business & Tax Climate

Proximity To Key Business Districts Data centers in Lusaka are situated to serve the city's primary commercial and governmental districts. This proximity provides low-latency connectivity for financial services, government agencies, and corporate headquarters concentrated in the capital.

Regional Market Reach Lusaka serves as a strategic digital gateway to a market of over 80 million people across Zambia and its eight neighboring countries. Deploying infrastructure here allows businesses to efficiently serve a large, underserved region of south-central Africa from a single point of presence.

Tax Advantage For Data Centers Zambia currently has no specific tax incentives for data center investment or operation. The financial benefits of operating in Lusaka are primarily derived from competitive power pricing and access to a growing regional market.

Natural Disaster Risk

Zambia has a medium overall disaster risk profile, with an INFORM risk score of 4.6 out of 10, as of September 2025. The risk profile is driven almost entirely by climate-related and geographic factors rather than seismic activity.

Key natural hazards include:

• Drought: The highest individual risk factor, potentially impacting hydropower generation.
• River Flood: A significant seasonal risk in certain regions, requiring careful site selection.
• Earthquake: A low but present risk.
• Epidemic: A moderate vulnerability factor for the region.