Nepal’s ‘first’ GPU cloud service launched, Yeti Cloud launched in collaboration with Data Hub and Hosted AI

 Nepal’s ‘first’ GPU cloud service launched, Yeti Cloud launched in collaboration with Data Hub and Hosted AI

Data Hub has launched the state-of-the-art GPU cloud infrastructure required for Artificial Intelligence (AI). The company claims to have brought the first GPU service in Nepal under the name YetiCloud.ai in a technical partnership with Hosted.ai.

The company stated that this service was launched with the aim of establishing Nepal on the world map of AI and providing powerful computing capabilities to indigenous startups and industries.

Inaugurating the program, Nvidia and GPU expert Gauri said, “In the last two years, getting a GPU was a rare and difficult task, like finding a Yeti in the mountains. But today we have overcome that deficiency. Now Nepal will have its own AI infrastructure – on our soil, on our terms, and as our Sovereign AI.”

She added, “Yeti Cloud’s slogan is ‘Nepal’s own AI infrastructure: anywhere, anytime, for whatever’, which clearly demonstrates its accessibility.”

Native data, native payments and low latency

Recalling his data center journey since 2012, Data Hub Managing Director Deepak Shrestha said that Nepal’s digital economy is moving at a rapid pace. He also discussed the benefits of having a GPU service in Nepal.

Shrestha said, “We are providing this service through our data centers in Kathmandu and Butwal. Earlier, we had to wait years to sell racks, but now digital demand has increased so much that racks are sold out in a few months.”

He further clarified, “When using foreign clouds, there was a problem of having to pay in dollars and data being lost. Now, through Yeti Cloud, payments can be made in Nepali rupees, data will be safe in Nepal, and latency will be very low. This will increase the efficiency of AI. In case of a problem, there will be no need to call Virginia or Bangalore, and Nepali technicians will be able to help in Kathmandu.”

‘Let’s export AI, not just electricity’

Detlev, CEO of Hosted AI, shared his strategic view on the relationship between Nepal’s hydropower and AI. Having first visited Nepal in 1989, he said that Nepal has three main foundations for becoming an AI hub – abundant power, geographical location, and talent.

Detlev said, “AI is a factory that consumes electricity to produce decisions. Nepal is currently selling its electricity cheaply to neighboring countries and importing AI services made from that electricity at a high price. This is the path to becoming a digital colony.”

He further said, “Nepal has cheap and renewable energy. Don’t just export ‘electrons’ of electricity, export ‘intelligence’ by processing those electrons into AI. Situated between India and China, Nepal can provide AI services to these two huge markets at low latency.”

AI Factory and Future Jobs

Yeti Cloud has said that it will provide GPUs on an hourly basis. This will allow small startups and students to train and run cutting-edge AI models without buying expensive hardware.

The data hub describes it as an AI factory rather than just a cloud service. It is believed that this infrastructure will help prepare a new generation of GPU engineers, data scientists and machine learning experts in Nepal and stop the brain drain.

As Nepal embarks on the path of digital transformation, the launch of ‘Yeti Cloud’ is seen as a significant contribution to making the technology sector self-reliant here. Now, Nepali developers are expected to be able to build world-class AI apps and models using their own servers and electricity.

Yeti Cloud has stated that it is providing world-class services to Nepali users at very affordable rates. According to the published price list, a ‘pay-as-you-go’ model has been adopted where users have to pay only based on their needs and consumption. This has opened the way for small startups and students to use high-capacity cloud servers without a large investment.