Akamai launches Connected Cloud platform

Akamai Technologies on Tuesday launched Akamai Connected Clouds — a distributed edge and cloud platform for computing, content delivery and application security. Akamai Connected Cloud is available to developers in the Asia Pacific-Japan region to build and run workloads closer to where businesses and users connect online. 

“We’re taking a fundamentally different approach to cloud computing — building on 25 years of experience scaling and securing the internet for the biggest companies in the world. Akamai is building the cloud the next decade needs,” said Tom Leighton, Akamai’s co-founder. 

The company said that the platform will enable companies, especially in the media, gaming, retail, SaaS, and government sector, to build workloads that require single-digit millisecond latency and global reach. Akamai has also announced four new enterprise-scale core computing sites in 2023 in Chennai (India), Osaka (Japan), Jakarta (Indonesia), and Auckland (New Zealand). 

Akamai’s connected cloud platform is based on its acquisition of cloud-hosting service Linode which it bought in March 2022 for $900 million. The planned four core computing sites will be in addition to Linode’s existing 11 sites. 

In addition to the planned core sites, Akamai has shortlisted 50 cities globally for building distributed sites that will allow easy access to basic cloud computing capabilities in difficult-to-reach locations.  

Akamai aims to bring down the cost of cloud egress relative to hyperscales and alternative cloud providers. Cloud egress charges refer to the fee a customer is charged during the retrieval of data from the cloud. 

The company has also announced an Akamai Qualified Computing Partner Program that will offer customers services that are interoperable with Akamai Connected Cloud. The services will be offered via Akamai technology partners, who will be vetted through a thorough qualification process. 

“Our distributed scale is designed to deliver highly-performant cloud computing everywhere our customers’ business connects online, empowering them with the speed, flexibility, performance, and connectivity they need to grow without compromise, innovate without friction, and delight customers without fail,” said Adam Karon, chief operating officer, and general manager of Akamai’s Cloud Technology Group.