WIOCC Group has secured a combined US$300 million investment from Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and Vision International Investment Company (Vision Invest), a move expected to strengthen Africa’s digital infrastructure and support the continent’s growing demand for connectivity, cloud services and artificial intelligence.
The investment, formalised through a Shareholder Subscription Agreement (SSA) signed at the LEAP 2026 Global Technology exhibition in Riyadh, will support the expansion of WIOCC Group’s open-access digital infrastructure across Africa. It comes as the continent faces a significant digital infrastructure gap, while demand for data and digital services continues to increase.
According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), only 35.7% of Africa’s population was using the internet in 2025, compared with a global average of 73.6%. UNCTAD also expects the global artificial intelligence market to reach US$4.8 trillion by 2033, highlighting the growing importance of digital infrastructure in supporting future economic activity.
The investment is expected to help expand the infrastructure needed to improve digital access, support cross-border data flows and enable African businesses to participate more effectively in the global digital economy.
Expanding the infrastructure behind Africa’s digital economy
WIOCC Group operates in more than 30 African countries and has built one of the continent’s most extensive open-access digital infrastructure platforms. The company supports businesses and digital service providers with connectivity across African markets and international routes.
AFC President and Chief Executive Officer Samaila Zubairu said the investment would help address the infrastructure needed for Africa to compete in the digital economy.
“The Africa we build must be connected, competitive and equipped to create value from the digital economy, not only consume it,” Zubairu said. “Just as transport corridors enable trade and energy networks power industry, fibre, data centres and subsea cables are now essential infrastructure for growth, innovation and AI.”
WIOCC plans to use the investment to accelerate data centre deployment and consolidation, expand its terrestrial fibre footprint and invest strategically in new subsea assets. These developments are expected to strengthen connectivity within Africa and between the continent and key international markets.
WIOCC Group Chief Executive Officer Chris Wood said the investment would support the company’s long-term growth strategy as demand for digital services increases.
“Africa is uniquely positioned to capitalise on the next phase of global digital growth,” Wood said. “As demand for cloud, AI and digital services accelerates, robust and scalable infrastructure will be essential to unlocking the continent’s potential.”
The company’s shareholder base includes African telecommunications operators such as Uganda Telecom, Dalkom Somalia, Djibouti Telecom, Mozambique Telecom (TMCEL), Zanzibar Telecom (Zantel), Botswana Fibre Networks (BoFiNet), Lesotho Communications Authority, ONATEL, TelOne and Telkom Kenya. WIOCC is also backed by international development and investment institutions, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and African Capital Alliance (ACA).
A stronger platform for long-term growth
Vision Invest President and Chief Executive Officer Omar N. Al-Midani said the investment comes at a time when Africa’s population and demand for digital services are expected to grow significantly.
“Home to the world’s youngest population and expected to account for more than one-quarter of the global population by 2050, demand for digital services in Africa will continue to rise,” Al-Midani said.
He added that greater investment in connectivity and digital ecosystems would help create opportunities for “businesses, innovators and communities across Africa” while supporting innovation, economic diversification and sustainable growth.
For WIOCC, the investment is also expected to strengthen its financial position and ability to expand its market presence. Group Chief Strategy and M&A Officer Joshua Smythwood said the completion of the transaction would give the company greater capacity to execute its growth plans.
“The successful completion of this investment marks an important step in WIOCC Group’s evolution, enhancing the Group’s financial strength and enabling the management team to strengthen our market position, accelerate growth, enhance our ability to meet the evolving needs of customers across Africa, and generate long-term value for investors and stakeholders,” Smythwood said.
The transaction brings together AFC’s focus on African infrastructure development, Vision Invest’s experience in strategic infrastructure investment and WIOCC Group’s established digital footprint. AFC has invested more than US$19 billion across 36 African countries since its establishment in 2007 and has 48 member countries.
