Google Cloud unveils Africa AI and infrastructure investments

Google Cloud has announced five new Africa-focused initiatives at its inaugural Cloud Summit in Africa, including infrastructure, applied AI, education, and startup support.

• Infrastructure: Google announced a new connectivity hub, the Digital Exchange Port, in the Eastern Cape, South Africa; it is the first of four connectivity hubs Google committed to deliver to Africa and will connect the continent to Australia via the Umoja subsea cable and to India via a new subsea route.
• Other initiatives: Google and partners are launching Africa’s first applied AI lab in Ghana; Google is also backing an AI creative education program with The Akuna Group with more than $1 million (R17 million) in Google.org funding, and will build a R3 million digital innovation center with WeThinkCode in Soweto. Google will open applications for the 2026 South African cohort of the Google for Startups Accelerator on July 21, 2026 for 15 local startups.