Akashi data center to host Google Cloud infrastructure – an important milestone in Kazakhstan's digital transformation. In an interview with Kazinform, CEO Vladislav Minkevich noted that this cooperation will improve the speed and reliability of digital services and position Kazakhstan as a regional leader in cloud technologies.
What technical and organizational criteria had to be met to attract a partner like Google?
To attract Google, Akashi had to meet the strictest international standards. We initially designed the data center to meet Tier IV standards – the highest level of security in the world. This infrastructure guarantees a complete overhaul of all systems: even in the event of a power outage, equipment failure or disaster, operations will not be interrupted.
The first module, which we will put into operation in the first quarter of 2026, is designed to accommodate thousands of racks and independent power supplies. In addition, a comprehensive security system was created: multi-level physical control, electronic access, 24/7 monitoring and transparent operational procedures. Logistics also played a key role - easy access to the site and streamlined maintenance processes. All this allowed us to meet the criteria that Google requires of its global partners.
Will the center be fully integrated into the global Google Cloud ecosystem or will the services be partially localized?
The Google Cloud model is the so-called “distributed cloud“. In this architecture, some services are launched and maintained locally, which ensures low latency and meets the requirements for data storage in the country. At the same time, the center in Kazakhstan will remain part of a single global Google system: users will receive all the capabilities of the ecosystem and the global management plane. Thus, Kazakhstan will simultaneously benefit from localization and full integration with global cloud services.
What specific benefits will Kazakhstani companies receive after the launch of the Google Cloud node?
For businesses, launching a local center means, first of all, speed and reliability. Companies will be able to process data in the country, which will facilitate compliance with all regulatory requirements. Service response times will be significantly reduced, which is especially important for financial institutions, telecommunications, media, and those working with large data sets. Local support and communication channels will allow for faster integration of cloud services and resolution of emerging issues without resorting to the services of foreign offices.
How much will data latency be reduced and in which areas is this particularly important?
When data is processed in remote regions, such as Europe, latency can be as low as tens of milliseconds. While this may not seem like much, such delays are critical for online banking, trading systems, video streaming, or multiplayer games. Hosting a node in Kazakhstan will significantly reduce these delays. This means that transactions will be faster, video calls will be more stable, video streaming will be buffer-free, and industrial IoT systems will be able to work in near real-time.
Can we guarantee that the data of Kazakhstani users will not leave the country?
We are ready to offer solutions in which the data will be stored and processed exclusively in the Republic of Kazakhstan. We have the infrastructure, energy, and necessary access control protocols. The final solution depends on Google Cloud policies and the architecture of specific services, but we have created all the necessary conditions to ensure that data localization is possible and meets legal requirements.
What new Google Cloud services will become available after the launch of the node in Kazakhstan?
The launch of the node in Astana will accelerate the performance of a number of Google Cloud services. These include enterprise applications, analytics and artificial intelligence tools, as well as local content caches that will make streaming and media services faster and more stable. In addition, cloud-based functions that require local execution and low latency will become available.
Novinata is published on the basis understanding for the exchange of information between Fakti.bg and Kazinform