Visa Inc. has launched its first-ever data centre in Africa, marking a major investment in the continent’s rapidly growing digital payments sector.

Located in Johannesburg, the new facility forms part of a 1 billion rand ($57 million) investment in South Africa over the next three years, company executives announced at the official opening on Wednesday.

Michael Berner, Visa’s Head of Southern and East Africa, described the move as a strategic expansion of Visa’s global infrastructure. “This is one of very few data centres built outside of our core hubs—the U.S., the UK, and Singapore. It’s a strong signal of our long-term commitment to Africa’s economic growth,” he said.

The Johannesburg data centre will serve as a key addition to VisaNet, the company’s global processing network, which supports over 100 billion transactions annually across more than 200 countries and territories.

The launch comes as digital payments on the continent are poised for explosive growth. A recent Mastercard-commissioned report by Genesis Analytics projects that Africa’s digital payments economy will reach $1.5 trillion by 2030, fueled by increased internet access and deeper financial inclusion.

In South Africa alone, contactless payments now account for over 60% of in-person transactions, according to Visa. “South Africa is a digital leader on the continent,” said Lineshree Moodley, Visa’s Country Manager. “This data centre can serve as a launchpad for innovations we intend to scale across Africa.”

Moodley added that the Johannesburg investment forms part of Visa’s broader $1 billion five-year investment plan for Africa, first announced in 2022.

South Africa’s Communications Minister Solly Malatsi praised the development, calling it “a strong vote of confidence” in the country’s investment climate. “It reduces reliance on overseas infrastructure and enhances our financial sovereignty,” he said.