Ethiopian Electric Utility Partners with Wingu.Africa to Modernize Digital Infrastructure
November 30, 2025
In a significant move to bolster its digital resilience, the state-owned Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) has entered into a colocation agreement with pan-African data center operator Wingu.Africa. The deal will see EEU lease space at Wingu's Tier III-certified facility in Addis Ababa, marking a strategic step for the utility as it seeks to modernize the nation's critical energy infrastructure.
The partnership is central to EEU's efforts to improve the reliability, security, and operational efficiency of its services, which are essential for distributing electricity across Ethiopia. By migrating mission-critical IT infrastructure to a purpose-built, carrier-neutral data center, the utility aims to lay a robust foundation for future smart grid initiatives and enhanced customer service.
Michael Debela, Chief Information Officer at EEU, stated that the collaboration reflects the utility's vision to modernize electricity service delivery. "By strengthening the resilience of our digital infrastructure, we are improving the reliability of our operations and laying the foundation for smarter energy services that meet the needs of our citizens," Debela said.
Wingu.Africa, which launched its Ethiopian operations in August 2022 and inaugurated the Addis Ababa facility in 2023, will host EEU's systems. The data center, with a total capacity of 10 megawatts and space for 800 racks, also hosts Ethiopia's first Internet Exchange. Demos Kyriacou, Deputy CEO and COO of Wingu, emphasized the facility's readiness for such critical workloads, noting, "Hosting mission-critical infrastructure in our Tier III-certified environment ensures the highest levels of security, efficiency, and uptime. Together, we are building a foundation for Ethiopia’s energy and digital future."
The agreement underscores the growing demand for sophisticated data center services in Ethiopia, a market that remains underdeveloped with only five facilities currently listed in the capital. Other operators in the space include Raxio, RedFox, and Safaricom. Wingu's expansion is supported by substantial investment, including a $60 million funding round secured from Rand Merchant Bank in June of this year to fuel its build-out across Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Tanzania.
For the broader African data center industry, the deal signals a trend of major national utilities and enterprises opting for third-party, specialized colocation providers over building and maintaining their own facilities. This shift not only improves service reliability but also accelerates digital transformation by leveraging the expertise and scale of dedicated operators.
Source: datacenterdynamics
Ethiopian Electric Utility Partners with Wingu.Africa to Modernize Digital Infrastructure
