AWS has pledged to invest an additional R30.4 billion ($1.7 billion) in developing infrastructure and cloud services across Africa by 2029. This new commitment adds to the R15.6 billion ($874.54 million) already invested since the company launched its operations in Cape Town in 2018.
Despite no plans for another AWS data center in South Africa, the company remains dedicated to expanding its investments on the continent. The announcement was made during the AWS Summit at the Sandton Convention Center, marking 20 years since AWS first established its presence in South Africa.
Over the years, AWS’s investments have included opening an office in Johannesburg in 2015, launching a Development Centre in Kenya in 2023, introducing local zones in Nigeria, and opening three availability zones in Cape Town in 2020.
Chris Erasmus, AWS South Africa’s Country Manager, highlighted the growing investment in Africa as a strategic focus for the company. Beyond infrastructure, AWS is also committed to initiatives that positively impact society, including renewable energy, responsible water usage, skills development, and programs supporting SMEs.
“We see this accelerating drumbeat of investment on the continent as a strategic growth area for the business,” says Chris Erasmus, Country Manager, AWS South Africa.
In 2019, AWS set a goal to power all its operations with 100% renewable energy by 2030. The opening of a 10-megawatt solar plant in the Northern Cape in 2022, which generates 28,000 megawatt hours annually, has put this goal ahead of schedule. Additionally, AWS is progressing toward its aim of being water positive by 2030, having already achieved 41% of this target by the end of last year.
AWS has also been successful in providing free skills training to 29 million students by 2025, a target it reached earlier this year. The company is now collaborating with other businesses, including financial institutions, to expand its impact.
Moreover, AWS’s $154.74 billion investment in its SME partner program has so far supported 36 graduates, including Realtime Media, which is AWS’s first African partner to achieve a media and entertainment competency.
The AWS Summit event drew over 8,000 attendees, underscoring the growing interest in cloud computing and technology on the African continent.