South African Hosting Firm xneelo Breaks Ground on Second Johannesburg Data Center
February 3, 2026
South African colocation and hosting provider xneelo has commenced construction on its second data center facility in Johannesburg, a strategic expansion aimed at meeting the country's growing demand for digital infrastructure. The move underscores the increasing importance of robust, scalable data center capacity in supporting South Africa's burgeoning digital economy and cloud adoption. The company announced this week that it has broken ground on the new facility, located within the Samrand Business Park area of Johannesburg. The project is slated for completion in October 2026. While full technical specifications were not disclosed, xneelo stated the new data center will be modeled on the "proven design" of its existing Samrand site while incorporating "further efficiency improvements." The expansion significantly increases xneelo's footprint in the key economic hub. Its first Samrand data center, an air-cooled facility utilizing free cooling and cold aisle containment, currently hosts approximately 300 racks. Founded in 1999 and co-founded by Martin Hetzner of Germany's Hetzner Online, xneelo offers a portfolio of web hosting, colocation, cloud, and managed services from its facilities in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Commenting on the development, xneelo CEO Deon de Villiers emphasized the project's strategic rationale: "With more than two decades of hosting expertise, we know that infrastructure is the backbone of the digital economy. By expanding our Samrand footprint, we’re building for the future of South African businesses, ensuring they have the stability and scalability needed." The construction signals continued investment in South Africa's data center market, which is experiencing growth driven by increased data consumption, enterprise digital transformation, and the need for local data residency. xneelo's expansion provides additional critical infrastructure, enhancing competition and capacity in a region poised for further technological advancement.
Source: datacenterdynamics
