Intelligent Data Centres Issue 06 | Page 46

FEATURE a high volume of these scarce skills to be able to maintain a high level of expertise on site at all times. Why is cross-border connectivity so important in Africa? Africa is a vast continent with many landlocked countries. Reaching these regions requires cross border connectivity. The cost of this cross- connectivity tends to remain very high if there is only one provider. Multiple providers of cross border connectivity not only improves the price due to competition, but also improves the Internet’s resilience and stability. What business benefits does this provide for businesses operating in countries outside SA? It ensures better and more reliable access to online technologies for business enablement, as well as access to global markets for products and services. Are there any emerging trends you see within Africa in this space going forward? Having established itself nearly 30 years ago, CMC Networks built and manages the most extensive network across Africa with more than 80 points of presence servicing 51 African countries and in excess of 108 points of presence globally across USA, Europe, UAE, India, Asia and Australia. “The cloud era is a very exciting one for us,” added Trisolino. “With our significant Africa network, Cloud Connect will undoubtedly play a vital role in the growth and improvement of cloud adoption across the African continent.” Countries that can expect sub 100ms RTD include Angola, Benin, Botswana, 46 Issue 06 Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. We spoke to Sven Blom, Head of Sales, Teraco to find out more… What, in your view, are the biggest current challenges to data centre managers and their teams in the region? As the complexity and sheer size of data centre operations grow, the shortage of electrical and facilities management skills is becoming more critical and a greater challenge. This is made more complex as data centres operate 24x7, thus requiring Strong trends are emerging across Africa, opening up the telco sector and encouraging competition. This also drives the costs of the Internet down, which in turn enables business to make use of digital technologies to reach global markets and increase economic activity. The Internet is a great enabler for enterprise, education and many other sectors. ◊ WE BELIEVE THE NATURE OF THE AFRICA CLOUD EXCHANGE WILL ENCOURAGE AND LEAD TO INCREASED CLOUD INNOVATION. www.intelligentdatacentres.com