Google is working to provide full-scale cloud capabilities in Africa, announcing the launch of a cloud region in South Africa. It will be the company’s first in the continent, following in the footsteps of major competitors AWS and Microsoft Azure. The new region in South Africa is part of Google’s network of 35 cloud regions and 106 zones worldwide, and is part of a recent expansion that includes regions in Malaysia, Thailand, and New Zealand.
Google Cloud recently commissioned research from AlphaBeta Economics, which revealed the South Africa cloud region will contribute over $2.1 billion to South Africa’s GDP, while also creating over 40,000 jobs by 2030. Still, Google is a bit late to the game compared to its major competitors. Of the big three, Microsoft was first in South Africa launching in 2019, while AWS followed in 2020. Oracle was actually the third major cloud provider in the continent, and Google will be the fourth.
The company also announced it will build Dedicated Cloud Interconnect sites, linking users’ on-premises networks with Google’s grid. Those sites will be in Nairobi, Lagos, and South Africa as Google works to service new customers in the continent. Expect Google to expand further into Africa in the coming years, as demand will likely increase, as shown from the research conducted by AlphaBeta Economics.
“We are excited to announce the first Google Cloud region in Africa,” said Google Cloud Africa director, Niral Patel. “The new region will allow for the localization of applications and services. It will make it really easier for our customers and partners to quickly deploy solutions for their businesses, whereby they’re able to leverage our computer artificial intelligence or machine learning capabilities, and data analytics to make smarter business decisions as they go forward.”
Last week, Google also announced it will open its first cloud region in Greece and the deal would contribute about $2.13 billion to the country’s economic output, while creating 20,000 jobs by 2030. Google is also lagging behind Microsoft and AWS in Greece, with the former opening a data center hub two years ago, and the latter forming a presence in the country last year.
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Source: TechCrunch, Reuters