"All cloud based services are deployed in a cluster format; multiple instances are replicated throughout the IS cloud across the continent and data is also separately backed up," said Loren Bosch, sales director for Internet Solutions in Kenya. "The global IS network is built on an MPLS platform and have invested in multiple international capacity options within the group, to make sure our network intelligent enough to switch to alternate services when unexpected disasters occur."

Big corporations with big budgets have been able to benefit from large-scale cloud services involving computing infrastructure and software. Smaller companies' use of cloud services is more limited, however, and often focuses on marketing via e-mail and mobile devices. In Africa, the growth of the "mobile cloud" has been spurred by efforts to expand business into areas with poor infrastructure, which typically provide minimal economic returns on investment.

Cloud-services and infrastructure providers who take the lead in offering mobile services are therefore likely to be early winners, according to market observers.

"The quality of provisioning through self service portals and the simplicity of use will determine the default leaders in the market for cloud services -- mobility will play a major role as consumers target ease of access," said Seven Seas' Macharia.