Google on Wednesday announced its intent to establish a new Google Cloud region in South Africa.
This is first on the African continent with Google hoping it would help create jobs and increase Africa’s presence online.
This was disclosed at the second Google for Africa hybrid event in Lagos, and the Google Cloud is one of the ways Google is delivering on the $1bn investment commitment made in 2021 by the company’s CEO, Sundar Pichai.
Niral Patel, Director of Google Cloud Africa said that the new Cloud Region would help users, developers, businesses and educational institutions across Africa to move more information and tools online.
Patel said it would improve access options for customers and in turn, create jobs.
The Director, Google Cloud Africa said that Google believed in growing an open and healthy ecosystem of technology solutions to support Africa’s digital transformation goals.
Patel said that the establishment of the cloud would lead to more opportunities for businesses in Africa.
According to Patel, It is part of the company-wide ethics to respect the environment, which is why it operates the cleanest cloud in the industry, supporting sustainable digital transformation.
“Along with the cloud region, we are expanding our network through the Equiano subsea cable and building Dedicated Cloud Interconnect sites in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Lagos and Nairobi.
“In doing so, we are building full scale Cloud capability for Africa,’’ he said.The director said that Google Cloud is already working with customers across the continent – helping them solve business critical challenges, get online, and access the benefits of digital technology.
According to him, while in Kenya, Google Cloud works with Twiga Foods – a technology driven company addressing and improving food security in Africa.
