Conrad Purcell, partner at Haynes Boone, explains how data centre development in sub-Saharan Africa is accelerating, driven by rising digital demand and infrastructure investment. While project finance through DFI lending offers a viable route for funding these projects, they still come with challenges such as power grid reliability, political and social instability and contractor limitations. Despite these hurdles, strategic risk mitigation, market appropriate contract drafting and surging demand for digital services are driving momentum.