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Long identified as an up and coming player in the tech market, Tech companies are ramping up infrastructure investments to meet surging cloud and AI demands across Africa, Notable developments include: Microsoft and BlackRock: A $30 billion fund to build new data centers and energy infrastructure. Meta: Plans for a $10 billion global subsea cable. Google: Launching the Umoja subsea cable to connect Africa and Australia, alongside a $90 million equity investment in Cassava Technologies. Google's focus on Africa includes its first data center, the Equiano cable, and investments to tackle connectivity issues caused by faulty undersea cables. Cassava's $310 million funding round includes $90 million in equity from Google, U.S. #DFC, and Finnfund, with the aim of expanding digital infrastructure across Africa. Cassava’s CEO emphasized bridging the continent’s digital divide. Cassava, spun out of Econet in 2021, operates across Africa, the Middle East, India, and Latin America. Its business units include Liquid Intelligent Technologies, partnering with Google on #Umoja, and Liquid C2, which collaborates with Google and Anthropic to deliver cloud, cybersecurity, and AI solutions. These efforts align with Google’s $1 billion commitment to Africa’s digital economy, aiming to drive innovation and operational efficiencies. #investinafrica #aiinvest #aiforall

In the rapidly evolving landscape of digital infrastructure in Africa, there has been a noteworthy surge in investment to bolster connectivity and support the growing needs of AI and cloud infrastructure. Google recently announced its participation in a $90 million investment into Cassava Technologies, a pivotal move aimed at enhancing Africa's digital landscape. This venture is a significant part of the Umoja subsea cable project, which will connect Africa and Australia, fostering greater connectivity across the regions. The trend of tech giants investing in infrastructure to sustain the AI boom continues to gain momentum. Notable examples include Microsoft's $30 billion fund for data centers and Meta's ambitious $10 billion subsea cable project. These initiatives are vital in addressing connectivity challenges that have frequently disrupted Africa's networks. Cassava CEO Hardy Pemhiwa has highlighted the transformative potential of these investments, aiming to bridge the digital divide and boost growth. As we continue to witness these advancements, it invites us to ponder the future of technology in the region. What do you think is the next big trend in digital infrastructure? I invite you to share your thoughts and engage in this exciting discourse about the future of tech in Africa. DigitalInfrastructure, AI, Investment, AfricaTech, CloudComputing

As part of its new equity equivalent investment programme, Microsoft South Africa has entered into on an agreement with the dti (Department of Trade and Industry: Republic of South Africa) which will see the multinational #technology corporation investing approximately ZAR 1.3 billion towards South Africa’s #technologysector and #SMMEs in various sectors over the next 10 years. This #investment programme is aligned with Microsoft’s global mission to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more. This is in line with our commitment to assist our valued clients to succeed through the unlocking of unique opportunities in Africa. This is why we are proud to have advised @Microsoft on this agreement. The Bowmans team included partners, Vanessa Jacklin-Levin, Olivia Deckers and Wandisile Mandlana, senior associate, Dr John Paul Ongeso, and associate, Azraa Moyideen. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gckwiaQm

#Portugal is now home to Europe’s largest Data Center, launched at the port of Sines! With its prime location and cutting-edge infrastructure, Sines is set to become a key digital gateway, connecting Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and North America. This milestone, powered by DE-CIX, transforms the region into a major hub for intercontinental data traffic. For startups, this presents huge opportunities. The increased connectivity and infrastructure will allow faster, more reliable data exchange, making it easier for new businesses to scale globally and innovate without the typical limitations of bandwidth or location. Exciting times ahead for tech and #innovation! 🚀

++ Microsoft and G42 Announce $1 Billion Digital Investment in #Kenya ++ Microsoft Corp. and G42 on Wednesday announced a comprehensive package of digital investments in Kenya, as part of an initiative with the Republic of Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy. "This partnership is bigger than technology itself. It is about coming together of three countries with a common vision of a nation empowered by technology, where every citizen has the opportunity to thrive in the global digital landscape. It’s about building a future where Kenya flourishes as a digital leader." - His Excellency William Samoei Ruto, PhD, President, Kenya "This partnership between two companies and three countries highlights a real opportunity to bring digital technology to the Global South in a safe and secure manner. This represents the single largest and broadest digital investment in Kenya’s history and reflects our confidence in the country, the government, its people and the future of East Africa. Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President, Microsoft In partnership with Microsoft, we are excited to work with the Kenyan government to usher in a transformative era for the digital ecosystem in Kenya and the region. By establishing a green data center and developing AI tailored to the local culture, G42 is committed to fostering sustainable technological growth. This initiative will empower the Kenyan government and communities with robust, secure cloud services and AI capabilities, providing the foundation for a thriving digital economy across the region." - Peng Xiao, Group Chief Executive Officer, G42 #techafricanews #africa #kenya #sustainable #technological #growth #cloud #services #artificialintelligence #digitaleconomy

Excited to share this blog about how Google is helping to unlock digital opportunities in Africa! 🚀 Our $1B investment has already fueled $16B in economic activity in 2023, and we've helped train over 6.5M people this year alone. 📈 Learn more about how we're supporting the continent's digital transformation. #GoogleInAfrica #DigitalTransformation

Soon, another billion people will be joining us online. Most will come from developing nations, like Kenya. My friend Andrew Yeung sent me a YouTube video where mathematician, broadcaster, and all round badass Hannah Fry describes how Google and other tech companies are approaching the problem of delivering high speed internet to underserved parts of the world. Having worked in the datacenter industry for many years, I know that Africa is one of the last great frontiers for modern internet infrastructure. Silicon Valley is well aware of the enormous potential here. The challenge has always been in the last mile delivery. While sub-sea fiber from Europe, South America and Asia reaches many of the coastal cities around the perimeter of the African continent, the interior is starved for access to it. Google is solving this in places like Nairobi, Kenya without dropping more fiber. They're setting up laser emitters on cell towers (pictured below) and firing them at receivers up to 20km away. Connectivity without the glass! This all adds up to a massive opportunity. More people online means more potential customers for international companies, but also more opportunities for entrepreneurs and innovators in Africa, and beyond. It also raises a lot of questions about educating people on how to use technology and the internet in a positive way, but I'll get into that in another post. Stay tuned! #Africa #Kenya #DigitalRevolution #InternetAccess #EmergingMarkets #BusinessOpportunity #Globalization #Datacenter

This is Africa’s Digital Decade,’ says Alex Okosi, Google’s MD for Africa. With digital transformation reshaping sectors across the continent, Google is supporting initiatives in connectivity, tech skills, and innovation hubs. Find out how these investments are paving the way for Africa’s digital future. Read more: #GoogleAfrica #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfAfrica #TechInnovation

🇦🇪 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚'𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 🇰🇪 G42 and Microsoft are partnering to make a significant investment of $1 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 in Kenya's digital infrastructure. This monumental collaboration aims to accelerate digital transformation and economic growth across the region. 𝘒𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦: 1. 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲: Enhanced digital infrastructure will enable faster internet speeds and improved connectivity, bridging the digital divide and empowering businesses and communities. 2. 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡: By fostering a robust tech ecosystem, this investment will drive innovation, create job opportunities, and support startups and SMEs in their journey towards success. 3. 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 & 𝐀𝐈: Establishing state-of-the-art, sustainable data centers utilizing Microsoft Azure and leveraging AI technologies will enhance data management, security, and analytics, positioning Kenya as a digital leader in Africa. 4. 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥-𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐀𝐈 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐬: A focus on creating AI models that support local languages, in collaboration with the MBZUAI (Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence) ensure inclusive access to technology, fostering digital literacy and enabling more people to benefit from these advancements. 5. 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: This initiative aligns with the sustainable development goals, ensuring that the growth is inclusive, resilient, and environmentally conscious. 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒆𝒇𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒔, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒍𝒐𝒃𝒂𝒍 𝒅𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒆, 𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒏𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆. This partnership is a testament to the power of collaboration in driving positive change and shaping the future. Together, G42 and Microsoft are not just investing in technology but also in the people of Kenya, paving the way for a brighter, more connected future. Let's celebrate this incredible milestone and look forward to the transformative impact it will have on Kenya and beyond. How do you see this investment shaping the future of digital innovation in Africa? #Technology #Innovation #Microsoft #Azure

This is Africa’s Digital Decade,’ says Alex Okosi, Google’s MD for Africa. With digital transformation reshaping sectors across the continent, Google is supporting initiatives in connectivity, tech skills, and innovation hubs. Find out how these investments are paving the way for Africa’s digital future. Read more: #GoogleAfrica #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfAfrica #TechInnovation