The AccessKenya Group has signed a partnership with Pamoja Cloud Services Limited, a value additions arm of Pan African ICT enabler SEACOM to provide a host of cloud services to the Kenyan market. Through Pamoja Cloud Services, AccessKenya will sell a variety of cloud services including software and other Value Added Services in a move that will see the company’s clients manage costs related to acquiring new hardware and software.
“We have come to the realization that we are yet to fully explore Cloud opportunities. By coming together with Pamoja Cloud Services Ltd., we bring to Kenyan Small Medium Enterprises SME Cloud computing services, so as to enable them to compete at the same level with larger organizations,” said Mr. Somen, AccessKenya CEO.
He further said: “Being the first resellers of the Pamoja Cloud Services Ltd. venture in this East Africa market, our focus will be to encourage customers to outsource their non-core services to the Cloud so as to avoid costs related to setting up infrastructure and maintaining them.”
Pamoja Cloud Services Limited was established in 2011 and it aims to provide wholesale Cloud computing services via telecommunication companies, ISPs and other service providers.
General Manager Albie Bester speaking during the launch said Pamoja Cloud Services is focused on a wider market, incorporating the fast-growing Small-to-medium Enterprise (SME) segment, and will leverage off SEACOM’s infrastructure, exposure to partnerships and Africa’s growing mobile and Internet market to entrench its services model.
“Service providers have recognised the Cloud as a source of new revenues, with global investments in Cloud services projected to more than double from an estimated US$55 billion in 2011 to almost US$130 billion annually by 2015,” said Mr. Bester.
He went further to say that: “financial benefits of Cloud Computing go beyond Capital expenditure, having a direct impact on the organisation’s cash flow, operational costs, operating expenses, reduced infrastructure investment and mitigated financial risk. In essence the cloud value is about business agility, opportunities and investment”
Pamoja’s Cloud services will be provided via the SEACOM’s network of data centres, located directly on the SEACOM submarine infrastructure. The first Cloud platform is running in the Mtunzini cable landing station near Richards Bay. The second platform is planned for Kenya, after which roll out will occur as and where there is demand.
AccessKenya boasts of vast experience in Cloud computing, having provided the service over the years. The CEO said that the partnership with Pamoja Cloud Services Ltd., will now formalize the package with a view of netting more SMEs and is in line with the company’s market consolidation strategies.
