Cloud computing: A bright light for Africa

Lazarus Sauti

From scientific research to commerce, the possible applications of the cloud are almost limitless.

Andy Burton, chairman of Cloud Industry Forum, says cloud computing, a synonym for distributed computing over a network, and means the ability to run a program or application on many connected computers at the same time, is to many a modern-day enigma.

Everyone interested in information technology has heard of it.

“Cloud computing alludes to great benefits for those that participate, and yet it often has an air of mystery and intangibility as people sift through the commentaries to determine how best to harness its capability,” said Burton.

That said, added Burton, cloud computing has come of age and has a rightful place in the evolution of information technology. Arguably, it is really more a story about business enablement and transformation than one of technology.

Business angel and futurologist Professor Peter Cochrane sees cloud as becoming universal.

“We are moving from a world of you and I online to everything online. Machines already exchange a lot more information than human beings do on this planet and this will continue to increase.’

He adds, “We are talking about all vehicles, all items you purchase, being part of the cloud.”

There is no doubt that cloud could transform the world and make life a great deal easier for many people.

The significance of cloud computing is that it relies on sharing of resources to achieve coherence and economies of scale, similar to a utility (like the electricity grid) over a network.

At the foundation of cloud computing is the broader concept of converged infrastructure and shared services.

The cloud also focuses on maximising the effectiveness of the shared resources; cloud resources are usually not only shared by multiple users but are also dynamically reallocated per demand.

Sadly, Africa and other developing nations are struggling to harness cloud computing.

Lack of access to affordable broadband and data servers in Africa and other developing nations severely limit the scope of ‘cloud computing’ that uses vast, shared virtual servers instead of localised hardware to run applications and store data.

This is according to “Information Economy Report 2013: The cloud Economy and Developing Countries”, a UN report published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD.

The report noted that while people in developing countries use free cloud services, such as webmail and online social networks, the scope for cloud computing adoption is much smaller than in developed countries.

A major reason, added the report, is the widening gap in the availability of cloud-computing related infrastructure, including affordable broadband networks, between developed and developing countries.

For several reasons, the options for cloud adoption available in low- and middle-income countries look different from those in more advanced economies. Critical factors relate, among other things, to the availability and quality of cloud-related infrastructure, cost considerations and inadequate legal and regulatory frameworks to address data protection and privacy concerns.

“As regards access to and availability of cloud-related infrastructure, and despite significant improvements in broadband connectivity in many developing economies, the gap between developed and developing countries keeps widening,” noted the report.

The Information Economy Report 2013 further said governments should facilitate benefits from the cloud economy but be aware of pitfalls.

“Although cloud adoption is still at a nascent stage in developing countries, policymakers should waste no time in enhancing their understanding of how it may affect their economies and societies, in order to be able to make informed policy decisions,” added the report.

It further said: “Government policies should be based on an assessment of the pros and cons of cloud solutions and be rooted in a thorough understanding of existing information and communication technology and cloud use within countries.

“Governments need to recognise the diversity of business models and services within the cloud, the multiplicity of customers of cloud services, and the complexity of the cloud economy ecosystem.”

In view of its relevance for both public service delivery and business competitiveness, the report said it is important to integrate any cloud strategy in the overall national development plan, and to plan for its execution, monitoring and evaluation.

More so, policy approaches should be tailored to the circumstances of individual economies, and be consistent with the overall strategic framework for national economic development and for leveraging ICTs.

For Africa to effectively harness cloud computing, the report suggested that developed countries should offer technical and financial help for cloud-related infrastructure in poorer countries, while developing countries should themselves address legal and regulatory concerns over cloud computing, data protection and cyber crime.