Microsoft and Amazon Web Services, two of Google’s competitors, have already established what is known as a hyperscale cloud infrastructure in South Africa, and now Google is following in their footsteps.
This will be the first of its kind to be installed in Africa by Google’s Cloud division, adding to the company’s existing 35 cloud regions across the globe.
Additional cloud interconnect facilities in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Lagos, and Nairobi will be built and linked to Google’s Equiano undersea broadband cable which has been in development since 2019 and will enable a ccess to the organization’s South African data centre infrastructure.
According to a statement released by Google on earlier this month, “the new cloud region will assist users, developers, businesses, and educational institutions across Africa in transferring more information and tools online, improve customer access options, and ultimately create jobs.” Localization of data will also aid in compliance with local legislation in South Africa
According to a statement released by Google on earlier this month, “the new cloud region will assist users, developers, businesses, and educational institutions across Africa in transferring more information and tools online, improve customer access options, and ultimately create jobs.” Localization of data will also aid in compliance with local legislation in South Africa.
It is projected that the South African cloud area will contribute an impressive US$2.1 billion (R37 billion) to the country’s GDP, and it will enable the creation of more than 40 000 jobs by the year 2030, this according to research conducted by AlphaBeta Economics.
The announcement of Google’s initiative follows the establishment of cloud “regions” in South Africa by rivals AWS and Microsoft. Microsoft has facilities in both Johannesburg and Cape Town, while Amazon has a data center site in the South African capital of Cape Town. Oracle, a leading provider of enterprise software, has also made investments in local cloud infrastructure.
At the time of writing, Google gave no indication as to the exact location of the data center, nor is there any confirmation as to when construction would be completed and ready to go live . Niral Patel, head of Google Cloud in Africa, told TechCentral that the time it takes for commercial services to become available after the announcement of a new cloud region is normally between 18 and 24 months.
Google is current the third largest provider of hyperscale cloud services globally.