WIOCC Group, Africa’s top carrier-neutral digital infrastructure firm, has secured $300 million investment to expand its open-access, critical infrastructure across Africa at a pivotal moment when Africa’s demand for data, cloud services and artificial intelligence continues to grow.
The investment via a Shareholder Subscription Agreement (SSA) with Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and Vision International Investment Company (Vision Invest) was signed at the LEAP 2026 Global Technology exhibition in Riyadh.
In a press statement seen by TechMoran, Chris Wood, Group Chief Executive Officer of WIOCC Group, said, “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.”
Wood added that this investment will enable WIOCC to accelerate data centre deployment and consolidation, expanding open-access terrestrial fibre footprint and invest in new subsea assets to strengthen Africa’s digital infrastructure platform and enhance connectivity between the continent and key international markets.
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%, highlighting the scale of the continent’s digital infrastructure needs and growth potential. Meanwhile, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) projects the global AI market will reach US $4.8 trillion by 2033, while warning that access to AI capabilities and digital infrastructure remains concentrated in a limited number of countries and companies. These trends underscore the importance of investing in resilient, high-capacity infrastructure that can expand digital access, support cross-border data flows and help narrow the digital divide.
WIOCC Group operates in more than 30 African countries with support from top firms such as International Finance Corporation (IFC) and African Capital Alliance (ACA) and various telcos across Africa. This new investment will helpit expand and serve more customers in these markets.
In December 2025, WIOCC raised $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.
In March the same year, WIOCC signed a colocation agreement with iColo, a carrier-neutral data centre provider to accelerate the growth of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Mombasa and across Kenya. The collaboration was expected to enhance digital infrastructure, improve interconnectivity and unlock new market opportunities for ISPs, ultimately contributing to Kenya’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
“The Africa we build must be connected, competitive and equipped to create value from the digital economy, not only consume it,” said Samaila Zubairu, President & Chief Executive Officer of AFC, “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.”
Together, AFC, Vision Invest and WIOCC aim to contribute to accelerating the development of Africa’s digital ecosystem and supporting the continent’s growing role in the rapidly evolving global digital economy.
‘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,” concluded President & Chief Executive Officer of Vision Invest, Omar N. Al-Midani.