Building a Data Center in Lagos: Challenges and Solutions

The digital economy will continue to transform the way we live, work, and interact. According to a report by McKinsey, the data economy could add up to $1 trillion in value to the European economy and up to $120 billion in value to the economies of Canada and Australia by 2020. To support this digital transformation, organizations need advanced data centers that can power their digital services and processes. With an increase in e-commerce sites, data transfer, video streaming, mobile devices, social media usage, and cloud storage among other services; it is no surprise that demand for data center solutions across the globe is growing at a rapid pace. This blog post explores some of the key considerations when building a data center in Lagos.

Understanding Data Center Requirements

At the very least, the requirements for a data center include the availability of power, cooling, space and connectivity. Additionally, the data center must comply with certain standards and regulations to ensure that data is secure and protected from physical, environmental, and cyber threats. Cooling : Traditional data centers are cooled using air-conditioning units that consume significant energy. To optimize energy efficiency, consider using environmental control systems (ECS) that gradually adjust the cooling power based on the current room temperature. The ECS can also be programmed to use a combination of different cooling methods, including refrigerated water, hot and cold aisles, and air flow. Power : Given that power outages can occur, it is important that the data center has a backup power source. The primary power source should be sourced from the national grid, while the backup option can be sourced from either the national grid or a local source. Space : Data centers typically require large spaces with suitable infrastructure to install servers, computers, and other equipment. It is also important to have adequate space for expansion and future growth. Connectivity : The data center should have reliable and secure connectivity to the internet. This can be achieved by using fiber optic cables that can support heavy internet traffic. Additionally, providers should also have a backup option in case of a disruption in the main connection.

Selecting a location for your data center

Given the high cost of setting up a data center, it is important to carefully select a location that can meet your requirements. The first step is to conduct a thorough analysis of potential locations, which could be a nearby city, the outskirts of the city, or the outskirts of a nearby city. Make sure to consider the country’s economic conditions, including the inflation rate, the risk of currency fluctuation, and political stability. For example, the United States has a great infrastructure, political stability, and an educated workforce. However, it is also quite costly to operate a business there. In contrast, China has lower labor and operational costs, but its infrastructure and regulatory environment could be an issue. So, these are some of the factors that you need to consider before selecting a location for your data center.

Estimate Power Requirements

Once you have selected a location, it is important to estimate the total power requirement for the data center. This includes the incoming power, the power required by the data center, and the overall capacity of the electrical substation. To estimate the incoming power, you can use the following formula:

Build or buy?

Another important consideration when building a data center is whether to build or buy. When building a data center, you have the option of procuring a greenfield site and constructing a new facility or retrofitting a facility. There are many benefits to building a new data center, including the ability to design a facility that meets your specific requirements and the ability to optimize the site location. However, it is important to keep in mind that the process of building a data center can be lengthy and expensive. When buying a data center, you have the option of either purchasing a turnkey data center or a pre-built data center. When buying a turnkey data center, the vendor takes care of complete construction, installation, and cabling. In turn, you will have to sign a long-term contract, which could be expensive in the long run. A pre-built data center is a suitable option when you need a facility that is ready to be used immediately.

Cloud and hosting options

Another important consideration when building a data center is to decide if you want to host your data or if you want to build your own data center. If you want to host your data in the cloud, make sure to select a data center that is compliant with the necessary security standards. If you decide to build your data center, ensure that you select the right technology. Some of the most common solutions include virtualized servers, managed hosting, and dedicated servers. It is also important to ensure that the data center has enough capacity to meet the growing demand for your digital services and to support your strategic business objectives.

Network infrastructure requirements

The network infrastructure is another important consideration when building a data center. This includes the necessary equipment, including network switches and routers, network interface cards, and fiber optic cables. When choosing network equipment, make sure to choose products that are optimized for your data center’s technology stack. It is also important to select products that have a long product lifecycle and are supported by the vendor. Also, make sure to account for future growth by selecting products that can handle higher loads.

Conclusion

The digital economy has led to an increase in the demand for high-quality data center solutions. To meet this growing demand, businesses should consider the challenges associated with building a data center in Lagos and explore suitable solutions. When building a data center in Lagos, it is important to consider the challenges and explore suitable solutions. These challenges include an increase in the demand for power, a high cost of operations, and an inadequate supply of skilled workers. Solutions to these challenges include the use of efficient energy-saving devices, the use of renewable energy, and investing in training programs for workers.