African Cloud Infrastructure Bolstered for AI Era with New Microsoft Azure Hub in Johannesburg

Cassava Technologies, through its subsidiaries Africa Data Centres and Liquid C2, has significantly advanced Africa's digital infrastructure by designating Johannesburg as the continent's first Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute Metro peering location. This strategic move enhances cloud resilience and security, providing a robust foundation for digital services across the region.

Liquid C2's new Secure CloudConnect service offers organizations a fully managed, resilient private cloud connection to Microsoft Azure, integrated with comprehensive cybersecurity solutions. This service is designed to simplify complex cloud environments, reduce disruption risks, and ensure compliance with critical regulatory requirements concerning operational resilience and data protection.

This milestone is lauded as a crucial step in building trust in Africa's capacity to support advanced cloud and AI-driven services. Executives from Cassava Technologies and Microsoft South Africa emphasize that such infrastructure is indispensable for empowering African businesses to innovate rapidly, compete on a global scale, and realize the continent's ambitious digital and economic transformation goals, particularly in the burgeoning AI landscape.

The establishment of this ExpressRoute Metro location positions Johannesburg among a select group of global technology hubs, offering enhanced cloud redundancy through dual peering locations within the same metro. This development is vital for mission-critical workloads and signals a strong commitment to preparing Africa for the demands and opportunities presented by the artificial intelligence era.