Microsoft, Amazon, Huawei Set To Spread African Market Footprint

In a new move to increase their market share in Africa, the trio of Global tech giant, Microsoft, Global leader in cloud computing, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Chinese telecoms market leader, Huawei are set to commit significant investment in building new data and software development centres across major African tech hubs.

The new move would imply that Startups and data-driven businesses within the continent can now offer much better performance for their end users, given that they’ll no longer have to scout for data centres located in other parts of the world.

Microsoft had earlier this year launched its first enterprise-grade data centres in Africa, becoming the first global provider to deliver cloud services from data centres on the continent. Microsoft Cloud — comprising Azure, Office 365, and Dynamics 365 — from data centres in a given geography, offers scalable, available, and resilient cloud services to companies and organizations while meeting data residency, security, and compliance needs.

Clearly, not relenting on its exploits, the global tech giant recently unveiled its plan to open a software development centres in Lagos, Nigeria and Nairobi, Kenya with an employment opportunity for over 100 full-time developers who will work across artificial intelligence, machine learning, and mixed reality innovation.

In a nutshell, the development centre will function as a premier centre where world-class African talents can create solutions for local and global impact. It would be recalled that the global tech giant recently launched Africa’s first hyper-scale data centres in South Africa.

Likewise, China’s Huawei has commenced the construction of two data centres in South Africa, as part of its plan to expand cloud services across Africa. To achieve its objective, the company said it is working with South African partners for the construction of the data centres in Johannesburg initially and then Cape Town subsequently, adding that it will support localized public cloud services based on domestic policies and requirements as part of its plan to achieve a fully connected Africa.

Huawei Cloud has launched over 160 cloud services across the world and plans to combine cloud and AI technology to launch products in Africa. Meanwhile, AWS — an Amazon.com company — had in Q4, 2018 disclosed its plan to unveil its first cloud computing region in Africa by 2020.

The company said it will support localized public cloud services based on domestic policies and requirements as part of its plan for a fully-connected Africa, including artificial intelligence applications. “Having built the original version of Amazon EC2 in our Cape Town development centre 14 years ago, and with thousands of African companies using AWS for years, we’ve been able to witness first-hand the technical talent and potential in Africa,” Andy Jassy, CEO of AWS, said.

“Local AWS customers will also be able to store their data in South Africa with the assurance that their content will not move without consent, while those looking to comply with the upcoming Protection of Personal Information Act will have access to secure infrastructure that meets the most rigorous international compliance standards.”