Cameroon-based cloud services provider ST Digital has launched GPU Cloud Africa, a GPU-as-a-service (GPUaaS) offering that aims to provide African businesses and institutions with access to Nvidia GPUs to develop AI applications.
Initially available in Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire, GPU Cloud Africa is billed as the first sovereign AI hosting service in West and Central Africa that supports local needs, to include pricing and technical support for AI developers.
In a statement issued Monday, ST Digital said GPU Cloud Africa will provide a secure and sovereign environment for African data that will enable hundreds of African start-ups and research centres to develop AI solutions in optimal conditions. The service also guarantees optimal performance for deep learning, big data analysis and advanced simulations.
ST Digital group GM Anthony Same said that the service is a crucial step for the African continent to achieve digital sovereignty, as African companies need local infrastructure capable of supporting the computing loads required for AI rather than rely on imported tech.
“Today, 95% of African AI talent is forced to use infrastructure and solutions with limited capabilities,” Same said in a statement. “For example, while a G7 startup can adjust its AI model in 30 minutes, our innovators have to wait up to six days. This is no longer acceptable, especially at a time when AI is driving global economic transformation.”
ST Digital – which also has operatoons in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon and Togo – said the GPU Cloud Africa service will commence commercial operations in the second quarter of 2025.
