By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-01-17 05:33:10
The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing in Africa has received a significant boost thanks to a $1.5 billion investment deal between Vodafone and Microsoft. Over the next decade, Vodafone plans to invest $1.5 billion in cloud and AI services developed in partnership with Microsoft. The two companies will work together to develop customer-focused AI services, with Microsoft utilizing Vodafone’s fixed and mobile connectivity services to enhance its own offerings.
Vodafone Group, a British multinational telecommunications firm, currently provides services in eight African countries including DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, and Tanzania. Microsoft will also be investing in Vodafone’s managed IoT connectivity platform, which will become a separate, standalone business by April 2024. This new entity will attract new partners and customers, driving growth in applications and expanding the platform to connect more devices, vehicles, and machines.
The partnership between Vodafone and Microsoft will utilize the latest generative AI technology to provide highly personalized and differentiated customer experiences across multiple channels. These digital services will be built on unbiased and ethical privacy and security policies under Vodafone’s established framework for responsible AI. Key areas of collaboration include Generative AI, Scaling IoT, Africa Digital Acceleration, Enterprise Growth, and Cloud Transformation.
Vodafone Group’s Chief Executive, Margherita Della Valle, stated: “Today, Vodafone has made a bold commitment to the digital future of Europe and Africa. This unique strategic partnership with Microsoft will accelerate the digital transformation of our business customers, tiny and medium-sized companies, and improve the quality of customer experience for consumers.” Chairman and CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella, added: “This new generation of AI will unlock massive new opportunities for every organization and every industry around the world.”
Through African digital acceleration, the partnership aims to further scale M-Pesa, already the largest financial technology platform in Africa, by housing it on Azure and enabling the launch of new cloud-native applications. Additionally, the companies are launching a program aimed at enriching the lives of 100 million consumers and one million SMEs across the African continent. The program seeks to enhance digital literacy, skilling, and youth outreach programs, as well as offering digital services to the underserved SME market.
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