Microsoft and G42 have announced plans to build a hyperscale data centre in Kenya to service the East Africa region.
The new Microsoft Azure East Africa Cloud Region forms part of a US$1-billion initial investment by the two companies and form part of a “comprehensive package of digital investments in Kenya”.
“In collaboration with Microsoft and other stakeholders, G42 will lead the arrangement of an initial investment of $1-billion for the various components outlined in the comprehensive package,” Microsoft said in a statement on Wednesday.
Microsoft, which has already deployed several Azure data centres in South Africa – and which is in the process of building more capacity in the Johannesburg area – said the Kenya facility will be a “state-of-the-art green data centre”.
The investments will include four additional pillars that will be pursued with local partners. These include:
- Building a local-language AI model for development and research;
- Building an East Africa Innovation Lab coupled with broad AI digital skills training;
- International and local connectivity investments; and
- Collaboration with the government of Kenya to support safe and secure cloud services across East Africa.
“A letter of intent formalising the relationship will be signed on Friday as part of Kenyan President William Ruto’s state visit to the US, the first state visit to Washington, DC by a sitting African head of state in nearly two decades.
Geothermal energy
The new data centre campus will be located in Olkaria in Kenya and will “run entirely on renewable geothermal energy and designed with state-of-the-art water conservation technology”.
“The data centre will run on and provide access to Microsoft Azure through a new East Africa Cloud Region, which will become operational within 24 months of the signing of the definitive agreements.”
