By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
FREETOWN, May 27 (232news.com) – Sierra Leone biggest and finest mobile phone company, Africell Sierra Leone has turned the sod for the construction of the first Manor River Union State-of-the-Art Data Centre in Freetown.
The commencement of the construction of the State-of-the-Art Data Centre took place on Monday 23rd May 2022 when Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, Jacob Jusu Saffa and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Africell Group Ziad Dallow turned the sod at Lumley Beach west of Freetown.
The data Center which is supported by the United States of America is to enable Africell expand their data storage not only for their service but for Government and non-governmental organisations.
Jacob Jusu Saffa while doing the official launched of the construction said Sierra Leone has trend from 2G to 4G++. He disclosed that voice connectivity is over 80% in the country.
According to the Chief Minister, the State-of-the-Art Data Centre when completed will not only serve Africell subscribers but a very useful source for economic analysis.
“It is a significant event. Africell has proven to be a development partner,” the Chief Minister said.
Africell Managing Director Shadi Gerjawi, disclosed that the Data Center will serve as a disaster Recovery Centre for Africell, providing resilience and redundancy to their network for both voice and data.
The Data Center he continued, will be dedicated to hosting third party infrastructure and data providing large storage capacity for disaster recovery and redundancy for Government, Non-Governmental Organisations, as well as for private entities requesting such services.
“It will host physical equipment, virtual service, and cloud based solutions. It will be ready to host a second submarine cable for Sierra Leone in the near future.”
Frisco McDonald, Counselor for Commercial and Economic Affairs Commercial and Economic Sector Embassy of the United States in Freetown speaking on behalf of the US Ambassador described data center as crucial for economic development and also plays a key role for security.
He said they are very pleased to support Africell to develop such center.
Minister of Information and Communication Mohamed Rahman Swaray, said President Julius Maada Bio has vowed to ensure Sierra Leone was not left out on the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
He added that the President believes in Digital Transformation in addressing governance and society challenges.
“Under the New Direction the private sector is thriving, expanding on their investments, as a result of government’s conducive business environmental.”
NATCOM Board Chairman Ambassador Joe C Blell commended Africell in their drives to improve the country’s ICT.
He said for the past 17th years Sierra Leone have been relating to Africell and most of the regulations NATCOM is responsible of Africell always comply.
Ambassador Peter Farm spoke on behalf of Africell Group Board. The event was graced by other government ministers alongside the private sectors and Africell subscribers.
