AWS plans £12B cloud expansion in Japan

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has set its sights on a significant expansion in Japan with plans to invest 2.26 trillion yen (£12 Billion) in the country’s cloud infrastructure over the next five years.

This move was disclosed during a press conference in Tokyo, where AWS announced its plans to build multiple data centres in the region to handle the increasing amount of data processed by Amazon’s network.

The investment being made is anticipated to have significant consequences. Tadao Nagasaki, President of AWS Japan, stressed its potential to enable Japanese businesses to utilize innovative digital technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning. This significant financial pledge demonstrates AWS’s resolve to strengthen its position in the Japanese market and enhance its cloud capabilities.

This expansion is expected to have a considerable economic impact, contributing approximately £30 billion to Japan’s gross domestic product. The digital minister of Japan, Takuya Hirai, praised Amazon’s investment and emphasized the role of digital infrastructure in enhancing the country’s industrial competitiveness.

Amazon’s investment in Japan is part of its broader focus on the Asia Pacific region, which also includes a £10 billion investment to expand its presence in India. Other tech giants, such as Google and Microsoft, are also making significant regional investments and expansions underscoring the recognition of the potential and value within the APAC area.

These investments highlight the dynamic growth and transformation in the cloud computing landscape in Japan and the Asia Pacific region. Major players like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are competing to establish and expand their foothold in the rapidly evolving market. As these investments unfold, they are poised to have a profound impact on the digital infrastructure and technological landscape of the region, shaping the future of cloud computing in Asia.