WIOCC Secures $300 Million Investment

African digital infrastructure company WIOCC Group has secured a combined $300 million investment from the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and Vision International Investment Company (Vision Invest), providing capital for the expansion of its data centre, fibre and subsea cable infrastructure across the continent.

The investment was formalised through a Shareholder Subscription Agreement signed at the LEAP 2026 Global Technology exhibition in Riyadh. The transaction will see AFC and Vision Invest join WIOCC’s existing shareholder base as the company moves to expand its open-access digital infrastructure platform.

WIOCC operates in more than 30 African countries, providing connectivity infrastructure and services to telecommunications operators, enterprises and other digital service providers. Its existing shareholders include several African telecom operators, including Telkom Kenya, Uganda Telecom, Dalkom Somalia, Djibouti Telecom, Mozambique Telecom (TMCEL), Zanzibar Telecom (Zantel), Botswana Fibre Networks (BoFiNet), Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA), ONATEL and TelOne.

The company has also previously received backing from international development and investment institutions, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and African Capital Alliance (ACA).

The new funding comes as demand for connectivity, cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure grows across Africa. Despite this growth, internet adoption on the continent remains below the global average. Data from the International Telecommunication Union indicates that 35.7 percent of Africa’s population was using the internet in 2025, compared with a global average of 73.6 percent.

The investment is expected to support WIOCC’s expansion across several areas of digital infrastructure. According to the company, the capital will be used to accelerate data centre deployment and consolidation, expand its terrestrial fibre network and invest in additional subsea cable assets.

WIOCC Group CEO Chris Wood said the investment would support the company’s longer-term expansion plans as demand for digital services increases.

“Africa is uniquely positioned to capitalise on the next phase of global digital growth. As demand for cloud, AI and digital services accelerates, robust and scalable infrastructure will be essential to unlocking the continent’s potential. This investment enables WIOCC to execute its long-term growth strategy by accelerating data centre deployment and consolidation, expanding the continent’s open-access terrestrial fibre footprint and investing strategically in new subsea assets, strengthening Africa’s digital infrastructure platform and enhancing connectivity between the continent and key international markets,” Wood said.

For AFC, the investment forms part of its broader focus on infrastructure that can support economic activity and digital development across African markets.

Samaila Zubairu, President and Chief Executive Officer of AFC, said, “The Africa we build must be connected, competitive and equipped to create value from the digital economy, not only consume it. 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. Our investment in WIOCC will expand the open-access digital backbone African businesses and communities need to integrate, innovate and compete globally.’

Vision Invest is also participating in the transaction as WIOCC enters its next phase of expansion.

“WIOCC Group has built one of Africa’s leading digital infrastructure platforms, and we are proud to partner together with AFC and WIOCC’s existing shareholders as the company enters its next phase of growth. 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, necessitating impactful investments in connectivity and digital ecosystems to unlock new opportunities for innovation, economic diversification and sustainable growth as well as opportunities for businesses, innovators and communities across Africa,” Omar N. Al-Midani, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vision Invest, said.

The additional capital comes at a time when data centre and connectivity investments are increasingly being driven by the growth of cloud services and AI. Higher data consumption and the deployment of AI applications are increasing requirements for reliable fibre networks, data centres and international connectivity.

For African markets, the infrastructure gap remains a significant constraint on digital adoption. While mobile networks have expanded access to the internet across much of the continent, limitations in fixed connectivity, data centre capacity, international bandwidth and reliable infrastructure continue to affect the availability and cost of digital services.

Joshua Smythwood, Group Chief Strategy and M&A Officer at WIOCC Group, said the transaction would strengthen the company’s financial position and support its expansion.

“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 noted.

The $300 million investment gives WIOCC additional capital to pursue infrastructure projects across its existing markets while potentially expanding its footprint as demand for digital capacity increases.

The transaction also highlights the growing interest among development finance institutions and infrastructure investors in Africa’s digital economy, where connectivity infrastructure is increasingly viewed as a foundational component of economic development rather than simply a telecommunications service.