WIOCC Group, a African open-access digital infrastructure provider, said on Tuesday it had raised an additional $65 million in debt financing to expand its network and data centre footprint across the continent.
The facility, structured as sustainability-linked debt, was arranged by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Proparco, Emerging Africa Infrastructure and Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF), and asset manager Ninety-One.
WIOCC Chief Executive Chris Wood said the funding would strengthen the company’s ability to scale its hyperscale network and extend open-access digital infrastructure, supporting Africa’s growth and digital inclusion.
“Digital connectivity is key to economic growth across Africa. This financing enables us to build resilient networks and expand access to high-speed internet,” Wood said.
The company said the funds would be used to increase connectivity capacity, enhance data centre resilience, and further develop its pan-African digital ecosystem.
IFC’s Sarvesh Suri said the investment would help optimize WIOCC’s capital structure, mitigate currency risk, and accelerate deployment of open-access networks to drive economic growth and job creation.
Puleng Pitso of Ninety-One, the fund manager for EAAIF, highlighted that the investment would support small businesses, entrepreneurs, and industries participating in the digital economy.
Françoise Lombard, CEO of Proparco, noted that the financing would accelerate WIOCC’s expansion across terrestrial fibre, submarine cables, and open-access data centres, which carry a significant portion of Africa’s internet traffic.
Since its founding in 2008, WIOCC has invested over $750 million in digital infrastructure across Africa, linking open-access data centres and transforming connectivity across the continent.