Opera's web browser has been around for decades. By shifting its focus to privacy and also better speed, the browser is unique in its own way.
The company has ambitious plans to expand the presence of its data servers to more African countries and continue enhancing the digital lives of millions of internet users across the continent.
And in the Nigeria, the company has officially announced the successful installation of its new local servers hosted within the MDXi Lekki Data Centre in Nigeria's capital, Lagos. The data center from Opera is considered the largest in West Africa.
With the new local servers in Lagos, Opera can improve its users' online experience in the region, where the company sees its fast-growing user base. With the servers, Opera can speed up online browsing, making connection to up to four times faster than before.
What this means, Opera browsers, as well as its Opera News app, can operate significantly faster for people in the region.
As quoted by Opera on its press release, Krystian Zubel, IT Director at Opera, said that:
"With the launch of our first local data servers in Nigeria, we’re taking another leap forward in user experience, providing millions of people with a faster browsing and news experience."
In addition, overall browsing has also become faster with the implementation of intelligent caching mechanisms.
The installation of the servers is part of Opera’s strategy to continue leading the digital transformation of Africa. The installation is considered the fastest in Opera’s history, thanks to the help of local and international engineers.
According to the Worldwide broadband speed league report 2019, presented by Cable, African countries are among those ranked with the slowest internet connection in 2019.
In Nigeria, the country sees 110 million internet users, and expected to increase to 188 million within a few years.
Affected by the slow internet speed, people in the country have a more limited access to the internet. This also represented a major challenge for any tech company or startup that wants to flourish.
With the new local servers, Opera is taking one step further in assisting the growth of the digital ecosystem in the region.
This isn't the first time Opera is investing in Nigeria.
Back in 2017, the company announced an investment of $100 million to help facilitate growth in the African digital economy, accelerate internet adoption and strengthen the digital internet ecosystem with its partners in the African region.
Since then, Opera has followed its 'Africa First' strategy, and accelerated the growth of its user base in the African region.
And in 2019, Opera also has expanded its product portfolio beyond mobile applications, by introducing online marketing platforms such as Opera Ads, OLeads and OList. With this strategy, Opera wants to bring millions of African businesses to the internet and help them maximize their online visibility.