South Africa
This article was added by the user . TheWorldNews is not responsible for the content of the platform.

Google to build South African cloud as part of $1 billion Africa plan

Google on Wednesday, 5 October said it will set up an African cloud service, as part of its $1 billion (R17.8 billion) investment plan for the continent, that will allow users to store their data in-country.

ALSO READ | THESE 4 BARS IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE AMONG THE BEST IN THE WORLD

According to Bloomberg, the cloud infrastructure will be based in South Africa, but will give users the options on where to store their data, said Niral Patel, the director of Google Cloud Africa.

“We are giving customers and partners choice, they then have the choice where they would like to store data and where they would like to consumer cloud services from,” Patel said.

ALSO READ | HOW MUCH PETROL WILL COST FROM WEDNESDAY INLAND AND AT THE COAST

African countries have a patchwork of laws on data sovereignty, with some requiring companies to store data within their borders, increasing demand for a more flexible regional cloud service.

ALSO READ | ANOTHER USA RETAIL GIANT HEADING TO SOUTH AFRICA – THIS MONTH!

For example, in Nigeria, phone companies are prohibited from sending government or customer information outside of the country, part of a push to encourage the development of local companies to store and manage the data.

The Alphabet Inc unit will compete with Microsoft Corp and Amazon Web Services in Africa’s most developed economy.

ALSO READ | 5 NEW INTERNATIONAL ROUTES TAKING OFF IN SA BEFORE END OF 2022

Google estimates that the South Africa cloud region could contribute more than $2.1 billion to the country’s economy, and support the creation of more than 40 000 jobs by 2030, Patel said.

Google building out its Equiano subsea cable

Meanwhile, Google also said it’s building out its African subsea cable and cloud interconnect sites to provide full cloud capability for the continent.

Equiano is now running through Togo, Nigeria, Namibia and South Africa and is expected to deliver faster, lower cost internet to the continent by connecting St. Helena, Togo, Nigeria, Namibia and South Africa with Europe.

ALSO READ | SA RESERVE BANK SEES NEED TO RAISE INTEREST RATES FURTHER – OUCH!

A recent economic impact assessment conducted by Africa Practice and Genesis Analytics found that by 2025, the cable is set to accelerate economic growth with GDPs of Nigeria rising by $10.1 billion, South Africa $7 billion and $260 million in Namibia.

During the same time, Equiano should indirectly create 1.6 million jobs in Nigeria, 180 000 in South Africa and 21 000 in Namibia, driven by the expansion of the digital economy and peripheral sectors.

Google’s Equiano cable route and branching units along the west coast of Africa. Image: Google Cloud