Organisations in South Africa will have access to an additional Microsoft Azure connectivity option after Africa Data Centres’ Johannesburg facility was designated an Azure ExpressRoute Metro peering location.
The designation enables enterprises to establish private connections to Microsoft Azure through two separate peering locations within the Johannesburg metro area, adding redundancy for organisations running mission-critical workloads in the cloud.
Africa Data Centres, part of Cassava Technologies, said the move strengthens the resilience of Africa’s digital infrastructure by improving access to secure, high-performance cloud services.
The Johannesburg facility becomes Africa’s first Azure ExpressRoute Metro location, joining a select group of global technology hubs offering enhanced cloud connectivity capabilities.
Azure ExpressRoute Metro routes a single connection through two peering locations in the same metro area, reducing reliance on a single connection point and improving resilience for hybrid cloud environments.
The development comes as organisations across regulated industries increasingly prioritise operational resilience, business continuity, risk management and data protection.
Financial services, healthcare, government and large enterprises are among the sectors driving demand for secure cloud connectivity and locally available infrastructure.
Africa Data Centres’ JHB1 facility becomes the second peering location within the Johannesburg metro providing local ExpressRoute Metro capability.
Liquid C2, Cassava Technologies’ cloud and cybersecurity business, will use its presence across both locations to deliver Secure CloudConnect.
The managed service combines private cloud connectivity with cybersecurity capabilities, providing organisations with a secure connection to Microsoft Azure, according to Cassava.
South Africa has become one of Africa’s largest data centre markets as enterprises and cloud providers invest in infrastructure to support growing demand for artificial intelligence, analytics and digital services.
“Being designated a Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute Metro peering location is a defining moment for Africa Data Centres as well as for Africa’s digital infrastructure. It reflects growing confidence in the continent’s ability to support the next generation of cloud and AI-driven services while demonstrating the strength of our One Cassava model,” said Ziaad Suleman, senior vice-president of Cassava Technologies South Africa and Botswana.
“By combining the infrastructure capabilities of Africa Data Centres with the cloud and cybersecurity expertise of Liquid C2, we are providing organisations with the resilient, secure and trusted digital foundation they need to accelerate innovation and growth.”
Microsoft South Africa CEO Vukani Mngxati said the availability of Azure ExpressRoute Metro in Johannesburg would give organisations a more resilient and secure route to cloud services.
“South Africa isn’t waiting for the AI era; it’s helping to shape it, and that ambition rests on digital infrastructure the country can trust. With Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute Metro now available in Johannesburg, organisations across South Africa gain a more resilient and secure path to the cloud for their most critical workloads,” said Mngxati.
The availability of local cloud connectivity options is expected to support enterprises adopting hybrid cloud strategies, particularly those requiring higher levels of availability, security and control over critical systems.
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