Data Centers in Harare
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.
Harare – Emerging Digital Hub for Southern Africa
Harare is establishing itself as a viable colocation market for businesses targeting Zimbabwe and the broader Southern African region. For companies requiring resilient infrastructure to serve local customers, Harare provides a foundational entry point, reducing latency and improving application performance compared to relying on more distant international hubs. This emerging market is best suited for content delivery, financial services, and enterprises focused on capturing digital growth within the region.
Harare: At A Glance
| Factor | Rating / Data | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Global Connectivity Grade | B | Adequate regional connectivity with reliance on terrestrial fiber routes. |
| Direct Cloud On-Ramps | 0 – as of September 2025 | Nearest major cloud hubs are in South Africa; private connectivity is required. |
| Power Cost | ZWL 85.00-110.00/kWh | Sourcing reliable, affordable power is a primary operational consideration for data centers. |
| Disaster Risk | Moderate (5/10) | Dominated by drought risk; seismically stable with low flood or cyclone exposure. |
| Tax Incentives | Yes | Sales tax exemption certificates for data centers are available through June 2037. |
| Sales Tax | 15.0% VAT – as of September 2025 | Standard value-added tax applies to goods and services. |
Network & Connectivity Ecosystem
Harare's connectivity landscape is developing, centered around terrestrial fiber linking it to submarine cable landing stations in neighboring countries. While not a major international hub, it provides essential in-country and regional network access.
Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality: The market contains approximately 2 colocation facilities, as of September 2025. Carrier choice is limited but growing, with several regional and local providers offering services. Carrier-neutral facilities are available, providing essential cross-connection opportunities.
Direct Cloud On-Ramps: There are no direct public cloud on-ramps within Harare, as of September 2025. Businesses require private network links, typically MPLS or dedicated circuits, to connect to cloud provider points of presence in South Africa, primarily Johannesburg.
Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): The primary exchange is the Zimbabwe Internet Exchange (ZIX), which facilitates local traffic peering to improve performance and reduce transit costs for local users. Most international traffic is routed through hubs in South Africa.
Bare Metal: Bare metal server availability is present, though not as extensive as in larger markets. Providers like Hivelocity offer solutions that can be deployed to serve the region.
Power Analysis
Grid stability and cost are critical factors for any data center deployment in Harare. While the country is making investments in its power infrastructure, careful planning for redundancy is non-negotiable.
Average Cost Of Power: Industrial power costs are estimated between ZWL 85.00–110.00/kWh, as of September 2025. This rate makes power a significant operational expense that must be managed closely.
Power Grid Reliability: The national grid can experience instability. Consequently, all data centers in Harare are equipped with comprehensive backup systems, including multi-megawatt diesel generators and extensive UPS battery arrays, to ensure continuous uptime.
Market Access, Business & Tax Climate
Harare is the economic and commercial center of Zimbabwe, offering a strategic location for businesses aiming to serve the national population.
Proximity To Key Business Districts: Data centers in Harare are situated to serve the city's central business district, which hosts financial institutions, government bodies, and corporate headquarters. This proximity is critical for latency-sensitive applications in banking and commerce.
Regional Market Reach: From Harare, businesses can effectively serve the entirety of Zimbabwe and extend their digital reach into neighboring countries like Zambia and Mozambique. It acts as a digital gateway for the land-linked nations in the region.
Tax Advantage For Data Centers: Zimbabwe offers a significant tax incentive for data center operators and tenants. A sales tax exemption on equipment purchases, extended to mid-2037, directly lowers the capital expenditure required to build and maintain digital infrastructure.
Natural Disaster Risk
Harare has a moderate overall disaster risk profile, rated 5 out of 10, according to an analysis of natural and man-made hazards as of September 2025. The primary environmental threats are related to climate and weather patterns rather than seismic or storm activity.
Key natural hazards include:
- Drought: The most significant risk (9.7/10), impacting water resources and power generation capacity.
- Epidemic: A notable risk (5.1/10) for the region.
- River Flood: A moderate risk (3.6/10) in specific low-lying areas.
- Earthquake: A low risk (1.8/10), as the region is not on a major fault line.
Tsunami, tropical cyclone, and coastal flood risks are negligible due to the country's inland location.
