WIOCC Group has secured $300M from AFC and Vision Invest to significantly expand Africa's digital infrastructure. This investment includes data centers, fiber networks, and subsea connectivity across the continent.
The investment, formalized through a Shareholder Subscription Agreement signed at LEAP 2026 in Riyadh, will support WIOCC’s plans to expand open-access digital infrastructure across Africa. This includes terrestrial fiber networks and subsea cable assets.
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The deal comes as demand for connectivity, cloud computing, data storage, and artificial intelligence continues to accelerate across the continent.
Expanding Africa's Digital Infrastructure
WIOCC Group operates across more than 30 African countries, providing carrier-neutral digital infrastructure and connectivity services to businesses and telecommunications operators.
The company said the new investment will strengthen its ability to execute its long-term growth strategy. It will expand the digital backbone needed to support Africa’s increasingly data-intensive economy.
The strategy is designed to create more open-access infrastructure that businesses can use to enter new markets. This allows them to deploy digital services and scale across the continent.
The investment arrives as Africa continues to face a significant digital connectivity gap. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 35.7% of Africa’s population used the internet in 2025, compared with a global average of 73.6%.
The Role of Connectivity in Economic Growth
At the same time, the rapid growth of AI and cloud computing is increasing demand for reliable, high-capacity infrastructure. For Africa, this means the next stage of digital transformation will depend on building the fiber, data centers, and subsea cables required to support sophisticated digital services.
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AFC President and CEO Samaila Zubairu said the investment reflects the importance of digital infrastructure to Africa’s economic competitiveness. “The Africa we build must be connected, competitive and equipped to create value from the digital economy, not only consume it,” he noted.
He added that fiber, data centers, and subsea cables are becoming essential infrastructure for growth, innovation, and AI. WIOCC CEO Chris Wood said the investment will allow the company to accelerate data center deployment, expand its terrestrial fiber footprint, and invest strategically in subsea assets.
Future Outlook for African Connectivity
The goal is to strengthen connections between African markets and key international digital hubs. This gives businesses greater access to scalable digital infrastructure, which is increasingly important as companies adopt cloud services, AI applications, and digital payments.
Vision Invest is joining AFC and WIOCC’s existing shareholders as the company enters its next phase of growth. Vision Invest CEO Omar N. Al-Midani said Africa’s young and growing population will continue to drive demand for digital services, creating opportunities for further investment.
WIOCC’s existing shareholder base includes African telecommunications operators and infrastructure stakeholders. The company has previously received backing from institutions including the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and African Capital Alliance (ACA).
Why It Matters to Africa
WIOCC’s new funding comes at an important point for Africa’s digital economy. The continent is moving from basic connectivity expansion toward a more complex digital infrastructure race involving AI, cloud computing, data centers, and cross-border data flows.
Expanding terrestrial fiber and subsea connectivity can improve the reliability and reach of digital services. Additionally, increased data center capacity will help businesses process and store more data closer to their users.
The investment also highlights the growing role of infrastructure capital in Africa’s AI ambitions. AI adoption cannot scale on software alone; it requires the physical infrastructure to move, store, and process massive volumes of data.
For WIOCC, the next challenge will be turning the $300 million investment into measurable increases in capacity, coverage, and connectivity across its African markets. If successful, the expansion could strengthen the digital backbone supporting the continent’s next phase of economic and technological growth.
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