Morocco Emerges as Africa’s Top Data Center Hub, Surpassing South Africa

In just a few years, Morocco has become the African country hosting the largest number of data centers, thus dethroning South Africa, which had long dominated the sector on the continent. This rise to power of the kingdom is the result of the clearly expressed will of the authorities to place digital infrastructure at the heart of national priorities, as well as the tax incentives put in place to support the development of the sector.

The new law requiring the hosting of sensitive data on national territory, passed in 2021, has favored a wave of digital repatriation, and stimulated demand for hosting infrastructure. Thus, most of the 23 data centers identified in Morocco are operated by local players in the telecom sector, such as Maroc Telecom and Inwi, or by specialized operators like Medasys and N+One. While major banks have created their own facilities, other establishments have rented hosting capacities, according to Hespress.

These digital infrastructures are concentrated in the regions of Casablanca-Settat and Rabat-Salé-Kénitra due to their connectivity, energy availability, and dense economic fabric. Meanwhile, other regions like Tétouan are striving to catch up. In 2024, the American company Iozera signed a contract with Moroccan authorities for the creation of a data center for an amount of 500 million dollars.

"The choice of location for a data center depends on a complex combination of factors, ranging from proximity to economic hubs to regional infrastructure and long-term operational sustainability. The sector naturally tends to favor areas where these parameters are optimized," explains Doha Ammour, Vice President of International Development at N+One Datacenters, quoted by Global Finance Magazine. With its Digital Morocco 2030 program, Morocco wants to promote financial technologies, artificial intelligence, and the modernization of its public services in order to consolidate its position as an essential digital hub in Africa.