The World Bank's International Finance Corporation and the Development Bank of Southern Africa made the investment in Africa's first neutral internet data center, a move which will pave the road for cheaper broadband connections for internet service providers and telecommunications carriers.

Vendor neutral data centers, which give enterprises unrestricted choice in how they connect to the Internet, are common in the U.S and Europe, but a first for Africa. Data centers store internet technology and networking equipment, and better freer to centers will lower internet provider transit charges, said Tim Parsonson, Teraco's chief executive officer.

Africa is a strategic priority for the IFC, particularly in investment between cross emerging markets, said Saleem Karimjee, IFC senior manager. "Internet communication technology does more than make widgets available to people--it has very deep social impacts as well."