Google launched its first cloud region in South Africa, a move to provide low latency cloud services to businesses in the continent.
In a blog post, Google Cloud Africa Director Niral Patel noted Africa presents huge growth potential with the internet economy estimated to reach US$180 billion by 2025, which equates to 5.2% of the continent’s GDP. Google has invested US$1 billion into Africa’s digital transformation.
“The Google Cloud region will accelerate the African tech ecosystem, providing organisations with the resources they need to scale, innovate, and compete in the global marketplace,” said Patel.
“We are excited to partner with organisations across the continent and help them discover the advantages of digital transformation.”
With the addition of Johannesburg Google now has 40 cloud regions and 121 zones. Altogether this means Google Cloud services can be tapped into from 200 countries and territories globally.
Google Cloud regions are connected to a system of high capacity fibre optic subsea and terrestrial cables. These include the recently-completed Equiano subsea cable system that connects Portugal with Togo, Nigeria, Namibia, South Africa, and St. Helena.
