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Coming in 2018 – New AWS Region in Sweden

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Re: Coming in 2018 – New AWS Region in Sweden

#41
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where would you propose hosting it in Africa? I understand that the consumer internet situation is not very good over there, are there datacenters and strong fiber links to USA and Europe? This is essentially why my company doesn't target African markets, because our software requires a persistent internet connection.

Dubai. Yes, not actually in Africa, but much closer to the area and relatively stable. Also, there's plenty of activity going on in the Middle East that would justify this (I think).

Dubai and the Arab Emirates censor and filter the internet, I don't think that would work.

Re: Coming in 2018 – New AWS Region in Sweden

#42
post #30

When will Africa get a region? Seriously, we have companies willing to pay big money to use a region closer to us.

Where would you propose hosting it in Africa? I understand that the consumer internet situation is not very good over there, are there datacenters and strong fiber links to USA and Europe? This is essentially why my company doesn't target African markets, because our software requires a persistent internet connection.

South Africa has good and stable fiber links. It would be the natural choice.

Re: Coming in 2018 – New AWS Region in Sweden

#43
post #30

When will Africa get a region? Seriously, we have companies willing to pay big money to use a region closer to us.

Where would you propose hosting it in Africa? I understand that the consumer internet situation is not very good over there, are there datacenters and strong fiber links to USA and Europe? This is essentially why my company doesn't target African markets, because our software requires a persistent internet connection.

East Africa, maybe Kenya.

Re: Coming in 2018 – New AWS Region in Sweden

#44

When will Africa get a region? Seriously, we have companies willing to pay big money to use a region closer to us.

No idea if any of this is true today, but here's what a quick google search found: https://www.quora.com/Is-Amazon-planning-to-open-a-data-cent... "Franco Austin, former Technical Account Manager at Amazon Web Services: 'Whilst South Africa only have a single energy provider, no. So the answer would be probably not soon, unless AWS plan to build their own energy provider, the requirements for a DC for AWS is that it…

I think Eskom will remain the single energy provider in South Africa for some time, but I think this concern can be mitigated by simply generating the power yourself or via a partner company that offers local electricity directly from e.g. a solar panel farm. South Africa has sufficient solar potential.

Re: Coming in 2018 – New AWS Region in Sweden

#45
post #32

When will Africa get a region? Seriously, we have companies willing to pay big money to use a region closer to us.

At this point it seems that big US companies are too afraid to invest in Africa. Which is kind of strange, since they weren't afraid to invest in China or Iraq. On top of this, funnily enough, the Chinese aren't afraid and by the time the US companies get going...

>"At this point it seems that big US companies are too afraid to invest in Africa"

That statement is just plain wrong and uninformed.

Google, FB, IBM and Microsoft are all making significant investments in Africa. See the following:

http://fortune.com/2016/05/26/u-s-tech-giants-flock-to-afric...

The world's largest young populations are all in Africa and these companies know this:

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/05/the-world-s-10-younge...

Re: Coming in 2018 – New AWS Region in Sweden

#46
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No idea if any of this is true today, but here's what a quick google search found: https://www.quora.com/Is-Amazon-planning-to-open-a-data-cent... "Franco Austin, former Technical Account Manager at Amazon Web Services: 'Whilst South Africa only have a single energy provider, no. So the answer would be probably not soon, unless AWS plan to build their own energy provider, the requirements for a DC for AWS is that it…

I think Eskom will remain the single energy provider in South Africa for some time, but I think this concern can be mitigated by simply generating the power yourself or via a partner company that offers local electricity directly from e.g. a solar panel farm. South Africa has sufficient solar potential.

But that would likely be expensive enough to make the risk not worth it.

Re: Coming in 2018 – New AWS Region in Sweden

#47
post #30

When will Africa get a region? Seriously, we have companies willing to pay big money to use a region closer to us.

Where would you propose hosting it in Africa? I understand that the consumer internet situation is not very good over there, are there datacenters and strong fiber links to USA and Europe? This is essentially why my company doesn't target African markets, because our software requires a persistent internet connection.

Why not Israel? * We have multiple fiber links * A lot of AWS heavy workloads comes from Israeli companies * Easy connection to other location through Egypt and Jordan

Re: Coming in 2018 – New AWS Region in Sweden

#49
post #47
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where would you propose hosting it in Africa? I understand that the consumer internet situation is not very good over there, are there datacenters and strong fiber links to USA and Europe? This is essentially why my company doesn't target African markets, because our software requires a persistent internet connection.

Why not Israel? * We have multiple fiber links * A lot of AWS heavy workloads comes from Israeli companies * Easy connection to other location through Egypt and Jordan

Why not Africa for Africa. Infrastructure for Africans. Jobs for Africans, network effects as technology use and extension takes off and salaries rise and hopefully lift up those who can't take direct part in the digital economy yet.

No offense to you or Israel, but it would be nice to see African interests managed somewhat "locally" whenever possible, with the benefits accrued and distributed locally as well. I think that's a future many people hope for, and it's nice to see an effort towards that direction where possible.

Re: Coming in 2018 – New AWS Region in Sweden

#50
post #23
post #8

Have to wonder how much of the push for more EU AWS regions comes from dealing with a potential exodus from the London region due Brexit (e.g. because of data protection issues)

Data centre in Dublin is well established (UK centre is fairly new IIRC?) and there is zero chance of Ireland leaving the EU, so I doubt this is the reason.

The German one is also older than the UK one.
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