When the Supreme Court was told in 2017 that the election results were “in the cloud” and the servers were in Europe, it conjured up images of a physical location that was inaccessible and a lot of Kenyans ended up confused.
Dennis Wambua, the Product Manager of Cloud Computing and Digital Capabilities at Safaricom, has a simpler explanation: cloud computing is like taking a matatu instead of driving your own car, which could make sense given the high cost of fuel.
“We are offering what is known as a virtual data centre. With a virtual data centre, you can control the number of virtual machines that you host. It’s the same concept in public transport. You can drive your car or take a matatu. When you ride in our matatu, your fare depends on the distance. However, this cost can’t be compared to what it would cost you to drive your car,” he says.
Technically, cloud computing is the general term for anything that involves delivering hosted services over the internet.
Safaricom first offered cloud services in 2010 when it set up its own virtualized data centre environment. The newly relaunched cloud services have increased capacity, which enhances capabilities for businesses.
The Safaricom cloud service is plug-and-play in the sense that once you purchase it, Safaricom handles the setting up. This eliminates the significant capital and operational expenditures accrued for on-premises server infrastructure and levels the field for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
Ultimately, cloud computing solutions will aid Kenyan companies, small or large, to fully transition to the 21st century and be able to seamlessly transition to remote work, ensure data security, and maintain critical operations from virtually anywhere.
“The advantage is that small businesses don’t need to get into the details of managing servers or server administration. We can do that on their behalf. That’s our area of focus so that they can focus on their core business,” says Dennis.
An additional benefit of Safaricom Cloud is its local server base, ensuring sovereignty. This makes users compliant with the Data Protection Act. Local hosting not only aligns with regulatory standards but also minimizes lag, enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of computer systems, and leading to quicker end-user transactions.
Having a locally hosted server also means users do not have to worry about foreign exchange fluctuations, where the cost increases if the Kenyan shilling weakens against foreign currencies like has happened in 2023 against the dollar.
In addition to leveraging Safaricom’s network reach, the Safaricom Cloud services are hosted in data centres in Nairobi and Kisumu, providing a cybersecurity safety net.
“The advantage of disaster recovery is that it mirrors your current infrastructure on the other side. So, in case of any issues with your primary site, you can easily switch over to your secondary site. There, you’ll find your data, your setup, your configurations—everything as it was—and you can continue operating,” says Dennis.
Cloud services offer a greener alternative to traditional IT infrastructure marking a substantial step towards building a more sustainable future. By centralizing resources in data centres, cloud providers can optimize energy consumption and reduce carbon footprint.
“A data centre consumes a lot of power. You can imagine the servers need to be on 24/7, and the cooling needs to be on 24/7. This requires a lot of resources. So, when companies outsource their servers, they enhance their sustainability. In Safaricom’s case, the use of solar as a backup power source has significantly reduced its power and operational costs,” says Dennis.
A report by Amazon Web Services (AWS) ranks Kenya among some of the world’s most ambitious economies in terms of digital disruption. According to the report, 26 percent of local organisations in Kenya adopted cloud computing in 2021, contrasting with 49 percent in Western Europe and North America.
This information is particularly significant for Dennis and, more importantly, for Safaricom, which aspires to become a purpose-led technology company by 2025. Dennis emphasizes the growth potential, stating, “The cloud services opportunity size for Kenya is about $5 billion, and many stakeholders are eyeing this opportunity. Microsoft, Amazon, and Google have already established their presence here. The opportunity is vast, and there is a race to dominate the market. Safaricom has a strategic advantage due to our existing customer relationships,” he says.
