In a significant development for South Africa’s tech landscape, Google has officially launched its first Africa-based cloud region in Johannesburg. This marks a strategic expansion of Google Cloud’s global infrastructure and introduces fresh competition into the continent’s rapidly growing data centre market—joining the likes of Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure.
The Johannesburg region, which went live in January 2024, was celebrated this week with an official launch event attended by senior Google executives and government officials. According to Google, the new cloud region will deliver low-latency access to its cloud services for enterprises of all sizes across the African continent.
The region is equipped to support a range of advanced technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, cybersecurity, and data analytics—capabilities that are increasingly seen as critical to Africa’s digital transformation.
Speaking at the launch, Alex Okosi, Managing Director of Google sub-Saharan Africa, emphasised the potential for AI alone to contribute over $30 billion to African economies by 2030. He noted that the Johannesburg region will empower African businesses to innovate, scale, and drive sustainable economic growth.
“Cloud computing is the engine behind the applications shaping the modern economy,” Okosi said. “With this infrastructure in place, African businesses can now build world-class solutions with speed, efficiency, and global reach.”
The launch forms part of Google’s broader $1 billion investment pledge towards accelerating Africa’s digital future, first announced in 2021. The Johannesburg region joins a global network of 42 cloud regions and 127 zones, serving over 200 countries and territories.
Infrastructure Investment with a Long-Term Vision
Complementing the new region, Google is also building out its Africa Connect initiative, which includes major subsea fibre investments like the Equiano cable and the upcoming Umoja route—a fibre-optic connection from Kenya to Australia. These infrastructure projects are designed to enhance network speed, reliability, and affordability across Africa.
Tara Brady, President of Google Cloud Europe, Middle East and Africa, reinforced Google’s long-term vision at the event.
“This cloud region is about more than just infrastructure. It’s about enabling jobs, improving productivity, and unlocking talent that’s already here,” Brady said. “South Africa faces challenges like high youth unemployment and productivity gaps, but the potential is enormous. AI and cloud computing can help bridge that gap.”
South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, welcomed the move, calling Google’s investment a valuable contribution to national digital development. “Our role is to ensure that digital progress reaches every South African. This initiative supports that goal,” Malatsi said.
What It Means for Business
For South African enterprises—from fintechs to retailers and manufacturing firms—the new cloud region means access to powerful technology that was previously out of reach due to latency, cost, or regulatory concerns. Organisations will now be able to host data locally, comply more easily with data protection laws, and benefit from real-time digital services.
With data sovereignty becoming increasingly important, and with more businesses moving their operations online, Johannesburg’s new cloud region could represent a turning point for digital competitiveness in South Africa and beyond. Alex Okosi, Managing Director of Google sub-Saharan Africa is also set to be awarded an honouary Outstanding Contribution to Expansion award at the National Innovation & Technology Awards (NITA) taking place during this year’s South Africa Trade & Consumer Expo 2025 on the 3rd of May at the Heartfelt Arena, in Pretoria , South Africa.
Business Today will continue to track developments in cloud infrastructure and its impact on local innovation and enterprise growth.
