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Oracle Is Planning To Build Two New Cloud Regions In Morocco

The data centers will be situated in Casablanca and Settat, bringing the global tech company’s number of MENA facilities to eight.

Published

4 months ago

May 30, 2024

Nour Nasir

oracle is planning to build two new cloud regions in morocco

Oracle is planning to open two new data centers in Morocco, which are expected to boost one of North Africa’s fastest-growing IT ecosystems and add to the influx of investments in the MENA technology scene.

The facilities are to be built in the capital, Casablanca, and the southern city of Settat. They will support digital transformation in Morocco and across North Africa while bringing the number of Oracle’s global cloud regions to 72. The company will offer dedicated, public, hybrid, and multi-cloud services to both enterprises and start-ups, as well as universities and government agencies.

“As one of the largest economies in Africa […] Morocco offers unique growth opportunities for businesses that are aiming to accelerate their expansion by deploying the latest digital technologies,” explained Richard Smith, executive vice president for technology in Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Oracle.

The rate of adoption for cloud services in the Middle East continues to grow, driven by a technology-savvy young consumer base and a rapidly evolving digital landscape. The technology sector in Morocco is one of Africa’s fastest-growing and is now a vital component of its economy.

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Overall, Morocco’s economy continued to strengthen last year, with real gross domestic growth expected to reach around 3.5% in the medium term.

“Oracle’s strategic investment marks a significant milestone in North Africa’s digital transformation journey,” noted Jyoti Lalchandani, regional managing director for the Middle East, Turkey, Africa, and India at market intelligence firm IDC.

Including the latest news about Morocco, Oracle’s MENA cloud regions have now increased to eight. In South Africa, the company has data centers in Johannesburg, and another is planned for Kenya. Meanwhile, the Middle East has centers in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Jeddah, with two additional facilities planned for the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and the high-tech city of Neom.

Related Topics:Cloud Computing Morocco Oracle

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Meta Reveals Orion AR Glasses, Offering A Glimpse Into The Future

The prototype was showcased at the Connect conference, bringing the company’s vision of blending virtual and physical worlds closer to reality.

Published

2 days ago

September 26, 2024

Joanna Melki

meta reveals orion ar glasses offering a glimpse into the future

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has unveiled a working prototype of its augmented-reality glasses — named Orion — at its annual Connect conference. At the event, CEO Mark Zuckerberg outlined his vision to use the AR device to blend the real world with the virtual:

“This is the physical world with holograms overlaid on it,” Zuckerberg said as he slid the glasses from their metal case. Describing Orion as “a time machine” he added, “These glasses exist, they are awesome, and they are a glimpse of a future that I think is going to be pretty exciting”.

The Orion AR glasses are built from magnesium alloy and run on custom silicon chips developed by Meta. They offer users control via hand-tracking, voice commands, and a wrist-based neural interface. Zuckerberg said Meta plans to further refine the glasses, making them smaller, more affordable, and ready for mass production in the near future.

So far, sources have revealed that Meta aims to release its first consumer version of the Orion AR glasses by 2027, once the technology has become more cost-effective.

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In addition to Orion, Meta introduced a more modest mixed-reality headset called the Quest 3S, with a starting price of $300. The company also rolled out several new AI tools, including chatbot updates and the ability for Meta AI to auto-insert personalized images into Facebook and Instagram feeds. An audio upgrade also allows users to choose celebrity voices, like Judi Dench or John Cena, for the Meta AI assistant. “I think voice is going to be a way more natural way of interacting with AI than text,” Zuckerberg said.

Finally, Meta has introduced three new versions of its Llama 3 AI models. The company continues to invest billions in AI and metaverse technologies, pushing its capital expenditure forecast for 2024 to a record $37-40 billion.