As Africa's internet connectivity surges, data hosting emerges as a critical battleground. While major tech companies invest heavily in the continent's infrastructure, concerns around digital sovereignty rise, prompting some nations to seek greater control over their data landscape.

Moroccan cloud provider Atlas Cloud Services and Indian IT giant HCLSoftware signed a partnership on Thursday, aiming to support businesses' digital transformation and strengthen the country's digital sovereignty, Morocco's MAP news agency reported.

The collaboration focuses on delivering high-performance cloud services tailored to local needs. A key initiative is establishing a localized messaging platform, ensuring data security and control for sensitive information. This platform offers flexible capacity and performance, catering specifically to business requirements.

Furthermore, the partnership encompasses secure instant messaging solutions for internal and external communication, facilitating collaboration and boosting employee productivity. A video conferencing tool is also included, enabling seamless communication and remote working. Additionally, a dedicated data storage and sharing space allows businesses to store and access data securely from any location and device.

Beyond commercial initiatives, the partnership extends to deploying a university research system and promoting scientific research and training, fostering innovation and talent development.

This collaborative effort aligns with Morocco's goal of bolstering its digital sovereignty. The country boasts dedicated infrastructure, including the African Supercomputing Center at UM6P, which opened in March 2021, one of Africa's most powerful computing facilities. In July 2023, Morocco implemented a ban on storing sensitive data outside the country.

Samira Njoya