- How has the project’s vision and role evolved since its initial announcement in 2023?
Raxio’s initial vision was highly ambitious, with a structured plan to build six data centres across Africa. Before launching in Angola, the Group established facilities in Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, DRC and Mozambique, focusing on markets where data centre ecosystems were still developing. Angola entered the rollout at a later stage because it already had some experience in this sector, which made market positioning smoother and more strategic.
Since construction began in 2023 and the official inauguration took place on 2 October last year, the project has evolved into a key enabler of Angola’s digital transformation. With strong government engagement and alignment with global digital trends, Raxio Angola now plays a central role in supporting the country’s growing connectivity needs and helping position Angola as a regional digital hub.
- What differentiates Raxio Angola in terms of financial sustainability, capital structure and long-term returns?
Answer:
The US$100 million investment from the International Finance Corporation reflects strong international confidence in both Raxio Group and Africa’s digital infrastructure potential. This backing goes beyond funding; it validates the long-term sustainability, governance standards and scalability of the project.
Raxio Angola differentiates itself through a strong capital structure supported by reputable global investors and a long-term infrastructure investment approach. The facility operates under internationally certified Tier III standards and follows a carrier-neutral colocation model. Rather than simply offering physical space, Raxio provides a globally certified, high-availability environment that ensures sustainable returns while directly contributing to the growth of Angola’s digital economy.
- How does Raxio Angola differentiate itself from other IT companies in Angola, and are there additional partnerships being explored?
Raxio Angola operates under a colocation model, which is its primary differentiator. Clients bring their own IT infrastructure, while Raxio provides the secure space, energy, cooling systems, connectivity and high-level physical security. The facility guarantees 99.982% uptime, ensuring operational continuity.
In a global environment where cybersecurity and data sovereignty are increasingly important, many organisations prefer to maintain ownership of their infrastructure while housing it in a certified and secure facility. Raxio enables this model and ensures that clients retain full control of their data.
In terms of partnerships, the company sees the market as an ecosystem rather than a competitive battlefield. Other data centre providers and connectivity operators are already installed within the facility. Raxio positions itself as a strategic partner, including for disaster recovery solutions, and works collaboratively to strengthen Angola’s overall digital infrastructure landscape.
- How have technological advancements improved operational performance and reliability, and what innovations are planned for the future?
Raxio Angola is built according to Tier III standards, which guarantee high availability through redundant power systems, independent cooling lines and backup generators. There is no single point of failure within the infrastructure, which ensures service continuity even during maintenance or unexpected incidents.
The data centre has been designed in scalable phases. This modular expansion strategy allows capacity to grow according to demand, preventing unnecessary idle infrastructure and ensuring operational efficiency. Future plans include expanding capacity for hyperscalers, enhancing automation systems and further strengthening integration within Angola’s connectivity ecosystem. The innovation behind Raxio lies not in visual elements, but in service reliability, operational excellence and long-term resilience.
- Can you elaborate on Raxio Angola’s sustainability and ESG strategy?
Sustainability at Raxio Angola is approached from both environmental and community perspectives. Environmentally, the facility incorporates advanced water treatment and recycling systems, allowing water reuse for non-potable purposes such as sanitation and gardening. The company relies primarily on stable public grid energy and has significantly reduced dependence on diesel generators. There are also plans to integrate renewable energy sources in the future.
Before construction, detailed flood-risk and environmental impact studies were conducted. The facility was elevated and surrounding drainage systems were improved to prevent flooding and protect neighboring communities. This has already had a positive impact on the surrounding area.
From a social perspective, Raxio Angola operates with a 100% local team. The company prioritises skills development and long-term knowledge retention within the country. Sustainability is therefore not only about environmental efficiency, but also about empowering local talent and contributing to the community’s long-term development.
- What are the long-term strategies to strengthen Angola’s position as a regional digital hub?
Raxio Angola’s long-term strategy is based on phased expansion. The first phase is already operational, and additional phases are planned within the large development site to increase capacity progressively. This approach ensures sustainable growth aligned with market demand.
The company is preparing infrastructure capable of supporting hyperscalers while simultaneously strengthening Angola’s digital sovereignty by encouraging local data storage and cloud development. Inside the facility, Raxio has created a marketplace ecosystem that allows both large enterprises and small technology companies to operate side by side.
By hosting connectivity providers within the data centre, Raxio ensures immediate interconnection opportunities, reducing dependence on foreign cloud markets and keeping digital value within Angola. The broader ambition is to position Angola as a strategic regional connectivity bridge and a reliable digital hub for West and East Africa.
- What values and experiences have most shaped your leadership journey?
Consistency and strong personal values have shaped my leadership journey. I believe in integrity, long-term vision and remaining faithful to one’s principles. My background in engineering and my previous leadership roles at IBM and Banco de Fomento Angola helped me combine technical expertise with people-focused leadership.
Leading a 100% local Angolan team is a deliberate choice. I strongly believe in developing local talent and ensuring that knowledge remains within the country. Leadership, for me, is about investing in people, building systems that outlast individuals and staying true to one’s values regardless of challenges.
I was raised to believe that the world is the size of our dreams. That belief continues to guide me today — both personally and professionally.
