Amazon Web Services (AWS) is launching Wavelength Zone Edge locations in Africa in partnership with Orange Business, in Morocco and Senegal.
Wavelength embeds AWS compute and storage services at the edge of communications service providers’ 5G networks. The company says Wavelength minimizes latency and the network hops required to connect from a 5G device to an application hosted on AWS because application traffic can reach servers without leaving the mobile provider’s network.
This partnership leverages AWS’s extensive cloud infrastructure and Orange’s data centers in each market and will address the growing demand for faster and more secure cloud computing solutions in Africa.
Over the last few years, the continent has experienced increased demand for cloud computing and data center services, driven by increasing appetite from banks, telecom companies, and healthcare providers, who are turning to cloud computing for improved performance and efficiency.
Another driver is the growing cloud market in Africa, expected to reach $18 billion by 2028, with a projected annual growth rate of 15%, while rising data consumption by bandwidth-hungry applications necessitates the importance of secure local data hosting.
“The deployment of AWS Wavelength Zones in North and West Africa, in collaboration with Orange, will further empower customers in growing geographies with local AWS services,” said Jan Hofmeyr, Vice President of EC2 Edge at AWS. “Customers of all sizes and all industries in Morocco and Senegal will be able to access local AWS compute and storage for data residency, low latency, and security needs for applications across real-time gaming and regulated industries, helping customers unlock new innovation and accelerate digital transformation.”
Amazon said it chose Orange as a partner because it wanted a “CSP partner with global reach, breadth, and depth of connectivity offerings and an ambition to scale their solution offerings to include a unique cloud value proposition.”
Jérôme Hénique, CEO at Orange Middle East and Africa, said: “The announcement of AWS Wavelength Zones for North & West Africa is a major achievement in our strategy to foster the cloud transformation of African businesses. We are providing the benefits of AWS to Moroccan and Senegalese organizations, from SMBs to MNCs, while ensuring data residency in secure Orange data centers in combination with our best-in-class connectivity solutions.”
AWS is the global leader in cloud computing, holding a significant share of the $270 billion market. However, its presence in Africa has been limited, with only a few countries like South Africa currently offering AWS services.
This partnership with Orange leverages the telecom giant’s extensive network infrastructure in Africa. The growing availability of 5G networks across the continent will further support the expansion of cloud computing services
