What does it take to deliver real-time, intelligent experiences across more than 140 languages? This customer story shows how Agora built a secure real-time communications platform using Azure AI, Azure OpenAI, and Azure Speech. The results: Coverage has grown from 80 to more than 200 countries and regions, millisecond-level latency, and more accurate translation. Read the story to learn from Agora's experience.
How does the Agora–Microsoft Azure AI partnership improve real-time global communication?
Agora uses Microsoft Azure AI and the global Azure cloud platform to build a secure, low-latency real-time communication network that works across borders.
Key improvements include:
- Real-time translation in 140+ languages: By integrating Azure Speech Services for speech-to-text and text-to-speech, Agora enables accurate, real-time multilingual communication, including support for diverse languages and dialects.
- Millisecond-level latency: Azure’s global infrastructure and network optimization help keep end-to-end latency at the millisecond level, so audio and video interactions feel natural and live, even across continents.
- Coverage in 200+ countries and regions: Leveraging Azure’s global footprint, Agora expanded its service coverage from about 80 to over 200 countries and regions, supporting customers almost anywhere they operate.
- AI-enhanced experiences: With Azure OpenAI and other Azure AI services, Agora is reimagining real-time engagement with intelligent voice interactions and multimodal customer experiences.
Together, these capabilities help organizations deliver more intelligent, interactive, and reliable real-time communication to global users.
How are compliance, security, and reliability handled in Agora’s global expansion?
As Agora expanded globally, it needed to navigate different data regulations, protect user information, and maintain high performance in diverse network conditions. Microsoft Azure provides the foundation to address these needs.
Specifically, Azure helps Agora:
- Meet global compliance requirements: Azure’s global cloud platform supports compliant data storage and transmission across multiple countries and regions, helping Agora align with local regulations.
- Strengthen data security: Agora leverages Azure’s security capabilities and has obtained international data security certifications, giving customers confidence in how their data is handled.
- Ensure stable performance worldwide: Azure’s distributed infrastructure and network optimization help maintain high standards of stability and real-time performance, even in regions with less reliable networks.
By building on Azure, Agora can focus on reshaping real-time interaction features while relying on a secure, compliant, and resilient cloud backbone for its global operations.
What business impact has Azure AI had on Agora’s products and operations?
Integrating Microsoft Azure AI has had both product-level and business-level impact for Agora.
On the product side:
- Smarter interactions: Azure OpenAI and Azure Speech enable intelligent, multimodal customer interactions, such as AI-powered voice experiences and real-time translation in 140+ languages.
- Better performance: With Azure’s global network optimization, Agora keeps product latency at the millisecond level, improving user satisfaction in real-time scenarios.
On the operations and business side:
- Faster development cycles: By using Azure OpenAI and GitHub Copilot across the software development lifecycle, Agora accelerates product iteration and improves development efficiency.
- Global growth and profitability: The Azure partnership supported Agora’s expansion from 80 to 200+ countries and regions and contributed to Agora achieving its first GAAP profitability in 2024.
Overall, Azure AI helps Agora rethink its platform as an AI-driven real-time interaction solution, supporting both technical innovation and sustainable global growth.
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