Google has announced its intent to establish a new Google Cloud region in South Africa, a first in Africa. The news came at the second Google for Africa event, with Google citing this as an example on how it is delivering on the $1bn investment commitment made last year by its CEO, Sundar Pichai.

The company states the new Cloud Region will help users, developers, businesses and educational institutions across Africa move more information and tools online, improve access options for customers and in turn, create jobs. According to research by AlphaBeta Economics commissioned by Google Cloud, the South Africa cloud region will contribute more than a cumulative $2.1 billion to the country’s GDP, and will support the creation of more than 40 000 jobs by 2030.

Niral Patel, director of Google Cloud Africa notes, “We believe in growing an open and healthy ecosystem of technology solutions to support Africa’s digital transformation goals, which leads to more opportunities for businesses. It is part of our company-wide ethos to respect the environment, which is why we operate the cleanest cloud in the industry, supporting sustainable digital transformation," he added. “Along with the cloud region, we are expanding our network through the Equiano subsea cable and building Dedicated Cloud Interconnect sites in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Lagos and Nairobi. In doing so, we are building full scale Cloud capability for Africa.”

Deputy minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Philly Mapulane notes, “Our National Development Plan 2030 calls for stimulating growth in the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) sector and innovation by driving public and private ICT investment, especially in network upgrades and expansion. Google's recent efforts in this regard have been particularly encouraging. The Equiano cable landed in Cape Town recently, and the improved speed and reduced internet costs that this can deliver has the potential to drive much fuller Internet participation for many more South Africans.”

During its Google for African event, Google announced the launch of voice typing support for nine more African languages in Gboard, the Google keyboard (isiNdebele, isiXhosa, Kinyarwanda, Northern Sotho, Swati, Sesotho, Tswana,Tshivenda and Xitsonga). This while 24 new languages are now supported on Google Translate, including Lingala, which is used by more than 45 million people across Central Africa. 

Also mentioned is how Google refreshed Street View in Kenya, South Africa, Senegal and Nigeria with nearly three hundred thousand kilometres of imagery. It is also extending the service to Rwanda, meaning that Street View is now available in 11 African countries.

According to the International Finance Corporation, Africa’s internet economy has the potential to grow to $180 billion by 2025, which is 5.2% of the continent’s GDP. Google notes it is continuing to support African small businesses through the Hustle Academy and Google Business Profiles, and to help job seekers learn the skills they need through Developer Scholarships and Career Certifications.

Further noting its investment in Africa, the company mentions its plans to open its first African product development centre in Nairobi, Kenya to develop and build better products for Africans and the world. 

Also mentioned by Google, is that through its $50 million Africa Investment Fund that targets equity investments in tech startups, it has since invested in three businesses over the past nine months - SafeBoda, a transportation app in Uganda and Nigeria, Carry1st, a South African mobile gaming startup and  Lori Systems, an e- logistics company based in Kenya.