Huawei Cloud has strengthened its African presence with the launch of four new availability zones — three in Egypt and one in Nigeria — bringing the total number of its cloud data centres on the continent to six. The move is aimed at addressing regional latency issues and ensuring data sovereignty, critical factors for industries such as finance, telecommunications, and government services.
Africa’s cloud computing market is on a strong growth trajectory, expected to expand from R35 billion in 2023 to over R113 billion by 2028, according to Africa Analysis. Huawei Cloud’s strategic expansion aligns with this trend, offering businesses access to secure, high-performance cloud services tailored for the African market.
Expanding Digital Infrastructure in Egypt
Huawei Cloud’s new presence in Egypt marks a significant milestone, as the Cairo Region becomes the first public cloud hub in North Africa. The initiative supports Egypt’s Vision 2030 strategy, which prioritises digital transformation and innovation. At the Huawei Cloud Summit 2024 in Cairo, Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr Amr Talaat, highlighted the role of cloud computing in modern economies, noting that “Cloud computing technologies are a key pillar of digital infrastructure in developed economies, optimising resources and enabling scalability.”
In addition to infrastructure investment, Huawei Cloud introduced an Arabic Large Language Model (LLM) designed to enhance AI-driven services across 20 Arabic-speaking nations. This development reflects Huawei’s broader commitment to fostering regional technological advancements.
Nigeria’s First Local Cloud Region
The launch of Huawei Cloud in Nigeria establishes the country’s first local cloud region, operating with Tier 3+ data centres that ensure 15-millisecond latency. This advancement supports compliance with Nigeria’s data sovereignty regulations, a key consideration for fintech firms and government entities. Speaking at the launch in Lagos, Deputy Governor Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat praised the initiative, stating that “this investment will enhance data sovereignty, benefiting businesses and the broader Nigerian economy.”
Huawei Cloud has already demonstrated its impact on local enterprises. Leading fintech firm OPay has reported a reduction in transaction latency from 130 milliseconds to 15 milliseconds, improving user experience. Additionally, major e-commerce platforms leveraging Huawei’s cloud solutions have reported operational efficiency gains.
Driving Digital Growth Across Africa
Beyond Egypt and Nigeria, Huawei Cloud’s influence extends across industries. The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) is working with Huawei to develop a smart railway system, using a hybrid cloud platform to increase efficiency and reduce theft. Standard Bank, another key partner, emphasised the importance of Huawei Cloud’s role in integrating data across its financial services ecosystem.
Huawei Cloud’s regional investment includes a US$300 million commitment to Egypt over the next five years, supporting 200 software partners and training 10,000 developers. In Nigeria, the company aims to enable 5,000 developers and partner with 100 local firms, reinforcing its dedication to Africa’s digital economy.
“As industries increasingly embrace AI and digitalisation, scalable and secure cloud solutions are essential,” said Steven Chen, Managing Director of Huawei Cloud South Africa. “Huawei Cloud remains committed to empowering African businesses with the infrastructure needed for sustained innovation and growth.”