iColo, the Kenyan data centre operator owned by Digital Realty, is backing a transition agreement between the London Internet Exchange (LINX) and Asteroid Kenya, in a move expected to reshape the country’s internet interconnection landscape.
The agreement, announced in September, will see LINX absorb Asteroid’s customers in Nairobi and Mombasa by the end of the year, when Asteroid Kenya ceases operations. The process aims to consolidate Kenya’s peering ecosystem under LINX’s interconnection hubs, strengthening regional connectivity and service reliability.
iColo operates two key facilities in Mombasa—MBA1 in Miritini and MBA2 in Nyali—which host most of Asteroid’s customer networks affected by the transition. The company’s infrastructure has been instrumental in enabling the migration of networks to LINX’s platforms.
Nurani Nimpuno, Head of Global Engagement at LINX, said iColo’s collaboration had been “crucial” to the project’s success. “We share the vision of improving interconnection and digital infrastructure in Kenya, always with a focus on providing excellent services and forging strong relationships,” she said.
Many networks have already moved to LINX’s hubs in Nairobi and Mombasa, according to LINX, with teams from both organisations providing tailored support to ensure a seamless transition. “It has been great to see how smooth the transition has been so far, with so many Kenyan networks joining LINX and gaining access to a whole suite of new interconnection services,” Nimpuno added.
Kenya has emerged as a regional connectivity hub, buoyed by Mombasa’s status as one of Africa’s most internationally connected cities, with seven submarine cables linking the country to Europe, Asia, and the rest of the continent.
Marcel Louw, Managing Director for Africa at Digital Realty, said the collaboration underscored the company’s commitment to advancing East Africa’s digital economy. “Our partnership has already delivered strong results in Nairobi and Mombasa, and we look forward to enabling further growth and innovation in East Africa’s digital ecosystem,” he said.
The partnership is part of LINX’s broader effort to develop resilient interconnection infrastructure across Africa, building on its growing footprint in key regional markets.
