Connecting Africa is part of the Informa Tech Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 3099067.

Cloud

Microsoft Delays Data Center Launch

Article Image
Microsoft has delayed the launch of its data center facilities in South Africa as more investment is needed in local infrastructure, according to a report by ITWeb.

The cloud services giant announced in May 2017 that it would build data centers in Johannesburg and Cape Town to deliver a range of cloud services, including Microsoft Azure, Office 365 and Dynamics 365, to African enterprises. At the time it said the data centers would come online in 2018. (See Microsoft Plans Cloud Services Launch in Africa in 2018.)

The move was hailed as significant for a continent that has historically been served mainly by data centers outside Africa. (See Why Microsoft's Cloud Burst Is a Game Changer.)

But the construction and servicing of those data centers has proved to be a greater challenge than expected. Microsoft spokesperson Ashleigh Fenwick told ITWeb that the company was "building an unprecedented level of infrastructure to support our new enterprise-grade cloud data centres in South Africa." Read the full story here.

Clearly Microsoft needs to be sure it has all the supporting infrastructure and services it needs, including power and connectivity, and can't launch any data centers until it is 100% sure it is fully supported. But this delay will be a blow to the tech giant as well as to its go-to-market partners, such as Vodacom and Liquid Telecom, and, most importantly, to the enterprise users waiting to benefit from the improved levels of service that local facilities can enable. (See Liquid Telecom Teams With Microsoft to Deliver Cloud Services and Vodacom Preps Azure Cloud Services Launch.)

If Microsoft can get its data centers up and running this year, it should still be ahead of its main rival, global cloud services leader AWS, which has plans to bring multiple data center facilities online in South Africa (Cape Town) during 2020. (See AWS Plans Further Cloud Investments in South Africa.)

— The staff, Connecting Africa

Innovation hub

Story

Hot startup of the month: Nigeria's Tech Herfrica

Connecting Africa's hot startup is Nigeria's Tech Herfrica, a social impact organization that focuses on the digital and financial inclusion of women and girls in rural areas of Nigeria.

Story

Omdia View: February 2024

Highlights in February 2024 in the Middle East and Africa included 5G launches in Senegal and 5G trials in Egypt as well as Kenya's first 5G MVNO. Airtel also launched a new wholesale connectivity business while MTN and Huawei are planning a joint Innovation Technology Lab in South Africa – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

More Innovation hub

Latest video

More videos

Partner perspectives

All Partner Perspectives

Sponsored video

More videos

Industry announcements

More Industry announcements

Upcoming events

Africa Tech Festival 2024
November 11-14, 2024
Cape Town, South Africa
More Upcoming events

Africa Tech Perspectives

Story

Uber's Marjorie Saint-Lot on inclusion and sustainability in Africa

Uber's Country Manager for Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire, Marjorie Saint-Lot, shares how the ride-hailing company is approaching public-private partnerships, environmentally friendly initiatives and gender inclusion in Africa.

Story

The 100 most influential African leaders in 2023

A new report from Africa Tech Festival and Connecting Africa puts a spotlight on the top 100 African leaders in the telecoms and technology sector in 2023.

Story

Deep dive into East Africa's tech startup ecosystem

New survey reveals a lack of access to investors, reliance on international VCs and global recession trends as the biggest barriers for East African tech startups to access funds.

More Africa Tech perspectives

Guest Perspectives

Story

Omdia View: February 2024

By Omdia Analysts

Highlights in February 2024 in the Middle East and Africa included 5G launches in Senegal and 5G trials in Egypt as well as Kenya's first 5G MVNO. Airtel also launched a new wholesale connectivity business while MTN and Huawei are planning a joint Innovation Technology Lab in South Africa – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

Story

Omdia View: January 2024

By Omdia Analysts

Highlights in January 2024 in the Middle East and Africa included a $200 million fintech deal between MTN and Mastercard as well as 5G network trials by Telecom Egypt – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

More Guest Perspectives

Like us on Facebook

Newsletter Sign Up


Sign Up
Tag id test-002