Yesterday, in the Nkok Special Economic Zone, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema officially unveiled Gabon’s inaugural data center, a cutting-edge facility developed by ST Digital Data Center Services. This landmark event was further enhanced by the signing of a pivotal memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Digital Economy, Digitalization and Innovation and ST Digital, aimed at fostering the growth of Gabonese startups.
This dual strategic move is set to significantly bolster the nation’s capacity for local data hosting, enhance cybersecurity measures, and accelerate Gabon’s overall digital transformation. Certified Tier III, meeting stringent international benchmarks, this infrastructure is poised to elevate national data storage capabilities, facilitate robust cloud computing services, and provide crucial support to government administrations and private enterprises alike, thereby solidifying Gabon’s digital sovereignty. The head of state’s commitment to guiding Gabon toward an assertive digital future is clearly demonstrated through this impactful initiative.
Under this new partnership, emerging businesses will gain privileged access to a suite of professional digital services. Selected startups are slated to receive a dedicated virtual machine, complemented by 120 GB of SSD storage, 8 GB of random access memory (RAM), four virtual processors, a public IP address, an SSL certificate, comprehensive technical support, and advantageous preferential pricing.
The Ministry will play a crucial role in identifying eligible beneficiaries, actively promoting local data hosting, and spearheading awareness campaigns on vital cybersecurity practices. Laïka Mba, the Director General of ST Digital, emphasized the profound significance of this achievement, stating, “Having a national data center in Gabon transcends a mere technological triumph; it represents an undeniable act of sovereignty.” She further elaborated, “It is the sacred assurance that our state secrets, our national archives, our essential public services, and the personal data of our citizens will no longer be reliant on foreign infrastructures.”
ST Digital commits to guaranteeing the utmost security for all hosted data and providing ongoing technical assistance. This strategic public-private collaboration is designed to cultivate the development of digital solutions created and hosted within Gabon, simultaneously fostering a more conducive environment for innovation, job creation, and attracting new investments.
