Johannesburg: TECHz – News Desk
On July 20, 2026, Cassava Technologies achieved a significant milestone for Africa’s digital ecosystem when its subsidiary, Africa Data Centres, was designated as a Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute Metro peering location.
This development establishes Johannesburg as the first ExpressRoute Metro site on the African continent, placing it among an elite group of global technology hubs capable of delivering superior cloud resilience and security.
Microsoft’s Azure ExpressRoute Metro is designed to embed high availability and redundancy directly into enterprise connectivity by routing a single private connection through two separate peering locations within the same metropolitan area. By splitting the circuit across two distinct facilities, organizations protect their private connectivity to Azure against localized outages or isolation events at a single site. Africa Data Centres’ JHB1 facility now serves as the vital second peering endpoint within the Johannesburg metro, fulfilling the dual-site requirement for ExpressRoute Metro capability.
To maximize the potential of this new infrastructure, Liquid C2 – Cassava Technologies’ cloud and cyber security division – has launched a fully managed service known as Secure CloudConnect. Liquid C2 leverages its unique position as the only provider with an on-net presence at both Johannesburg peering locations to offer seamless delivery. Secure CloudConnect provides businesses with integrated cyber security, combining highly resilient private cloud connections with robust, built-in security solutions.
The service directly addresses the growing demands from regulatory bodies for strict data protection, operational resilience, and proactive risk management. Additionally, organizations can reduce the complexity of managing their cloud environments and minimize downtime risks while relying on a single trusted provider for their critical operations.
The introduction of Azure ExpressRoute Metro is viewed as a foundational step for scaling artificial intelligence and next-generation cloud services across the region. Ziaad Suleman, Senior Vice President of Cassava Technologies South Africa and Botswana, described the designation as a defining moment. Suleman noted that it reflects growing confidence in the continent’s ability to support the next generation of cloud and AI-driven services while demonstrating the strength of the One Cassava model. He emphasized that the synergy between Africa Data Centres and Liquid C2 creates a trusted digital foundation for innovation.
Vukani Mngxati, CEO of Microsoft South Africa, echoed this sentiment, pointing out that South Africa is actively shaping the AI era through trusted infrastructure. Mngxati stated that with Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute Metro now available in Johannesburg, organizations across South Africa gain a more resilient and secure path to the cloud for their most critical workloads.
He added that resilient foundations enable local businesses to move faster, compete globally, and generate real economic impact. By bridging hyper-scale cloud infrastructure with managed cyber security, Cassava Technologies continues to future-proof African enterprises for the global digital economy.
