As part of its attempts to extend cloud computing services in East Africa, Microsoft is teaming with UAE-based AI firm G42 to spend $1 billion on a data centre in Kenya, the firms announced on Wednesday.
Laptops 1000Built by G42 and its partners, the data centre will have access to Microsoft’s Azure via a newly created cloud region for East Africa and run on geothermal energy.
WHY IT’S ESSENTIAL
Microsoft invested $1.5 billion in Abu Dhabi-based G42 last month, and the company has started training an open-source large-language AI model in Swahili and English.
SUBTLETY
Microsoft, Alphabet and Amazon.com are investing billions in new data centres across regions to meet the surge in demand for cloud and generative AI-related services.
UPCOMING
The Windows manufacturer announced that as part of Kenya’s President William Ruto’s state visit to the US, a letter of intent will be signed on Friday between Microsoft, G42, and the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy.
Microsoft added that after the parties sign final agreements, the data centre will be operating in two years.
