SEACOM and Microsoft have launched a cloud service in Kenya that the companies say will allow customers to extend their on-premise networks into the cloud without going over the public internet.

The service, named Azure ExpressRoute, was the by-product of intense negotiation between the companies to identify opportunities for collaboration in the East Africa's growing cloud computing market.

Sebuh Haileleul, East Africa Country Manager at Microsoft says customers can create private connections between datacentres and infrastructure on their premises or in a cloud environment – and this is a standout feature.

"We know that organisations are moving towards a space where they are dealing with a lot of data that requires secure movement. This service addresses these issues by providing a private, secure and high bandwidth connection to the cloud. Partnering with SEACOM made sense – especially where a guaranteed network experience for users going into the cloud was and is concerned,"

Pay-as-you-go off-grid solar company M-KOPA is among the first users of Azure ExpressRoute for the deployment of its IT across East Africa.

Tonny Tugee, SEACOM General Manager East North East Africa region says the company will be providing low latency connection with guaranteed throughput and uptime as part of the partnership.

"Data movement between the user and the cloud resources of Azure will be seamless, similar to working within your office local network. This partnership is based on the strengths and capabilities of both parties to provide support not only to M-KOPA, but also to further customers."

Haileleul adds that the move to the cloud and the increase in need for data management in the region means the introduction of Azure Express Route could not have been better timed.