Microsoft to Train 3 Million Africans, Invest $330M in South Africa Cloud Expansion
Microsoft plans to train three million Africans on its AI platforms and partner with MTN to distribute Microsoft 365 and Copilot to 300 million subscribers. It will invest 5.4 billion rand ($330 million) to expand cloud and AI capacity in South Africa, exploring a geothermal data center in Kenya.
1. African AI Training Initiative
Microsoft aims to train three million Africans on its AI technologies through partnerships with schools, universities and other institutions, focusing on South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Morocco to boost AI literacy and ecosystem adoption across emerging markets.
2. MTN Distribution Partnership
In collaboration with MTN Group, Microsoft will distribute Microsoft 365 and its Copilot digital assistant to about 300 million subscribers, leveraging MTN's network to drive enterprise and developer adoption of generative AI tools.
3. Infrastructure Investments
The company plans to invest 5.4 billion rand ($330 million) by the end of next year to expand its cloud and AI capacity in South Africa and is exploring a geothermal-powered data center in Kenya to support sustainable operations.