Advancing Cloud and Data Infrastructure Markets: Strategic Directions for Low- and Middle-Income Countries

“The World Development Report 2021: Data for Better Lives” underscored today’s unprecedented generation and flow of digital data and noted that much of the value remains untapped. To realize the enormous potential, data need to be supported by technologically advanced infrastructure to capture, analyze, share, and use them efficiently and effectively to benefit economies and societies. Cloud and data infrastructure presents the technological means to enable these processes, but the markets for these services are largely located in high-income countries. Countries with limited access to affordable services will lag in the ability to harness at scale the advanced technologies, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, and to realize the potential corresponding social and economic gains. This report is part of a joint World Bank-IFC effort to support countries on their path to developing these markets. It analyzes the key drivers of cloud and data infrastructure growth in these settings. It examines the business models, policies, and regulatory environment shaping the market trends as data from public and private sectors migrate to the cloud and explores the challenges in attracting investments.