Public cloud provider AWS, part of Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN), has opened new Local Zones in Atlanta, Phoenix, and Seattle.

AWS Local Zones are a type of AWS infrastructure deployment that places AWS compute, storage, database, and other select services closer to large population, industry, and IT centres where no AWS Region exists today.

The Local Zones are used to run applications that require single-digit millisecond latency for use cases such as real-time gaming, hybrid migrations, media and entertainment content creation, live video streaming, engineering simulations, AR/VR, and machine learning inference at the edge.

In a media statement, the company said: “Today we are announcing the general availability of AWS Local Zones in Atlanta, Phoenix, and Seattle.

“Customers can now use these new Local Zones to deliver applications that require single-digit millisecond latency to end-users or for on-premises installations in these three metro areas.”

With this launch, AWS Local Zones are now generally available in 16 metro areas – Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, and Seattle.

The operator is also set to launch over 30 new AWS Local Zones launching in major cities around the world throughout 2022.

In 2021, Amazon saw its cloud business arm enjoy the highest market growth of any other operator.

AWS’ annual revenue growth hit 36%, followed by Salesforce and Microsoft, who each grew their revenues by well over 20%, according to Synergy Research Group.

“Cloud and software-oriented markets were the standout performers, driving stellar growth for AWS, Microsoft and Salesforce. Vendors whose sales are focused primarily on more traditional on-premise products or infrastructure will continue to have a hard time generating exciting levels of growth,” said John Dinsdale, a Chief Analyst at Synergy.