Google Launches African Cloud Region in Johannesburg, South Africa

Recently, according to foreign media reports, Google Cloud officially launched its first cloud region in Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Adding this region, Google’s cloud network currently has a total of 40 cloud regions and 121 zones, providing services to over 200 countries and regions worldwide. However, Johannesburg is Google’s only cloud region on the African continent, and Google Cloud’s network map currently does not display any other planned areas in Africa.

Google lags behind its competitors in the African market. In October 2022, Google Cloud announced plans to establish a cloud region in South Africa by 2024 and launched a $1 billion investment plan to support startups in promoting digital transformation (DX) in the African market. This is expected to increase South Africa’s demand for cloud computing and the use of Google Cloud. But Microsoft Azure opened data centers in Johannesburg and Cape Town in March 2019, Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched its Africa Cloud region in Cape Town in April 2020, and Oracle established an office in Johannesburg in January 2022.
“The Johannesburg region is connected to Google’s secure network, which consists of a high-capacity fiber optic cable system spanning both land and sea worldwide. This includes the recently completed Equiano submarine cable system, which connects Portugal with Togo, Nigeria, Namibia, South Africa, and Saint Helena Island,” said Niral Patel, Google Africa Cloud Manager for Africa.