Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 1st September 2026 – WIOCC Group, Africa’s leading carrier-neutral digital infrastructure platform, has announced the signing of a Shareholder Subscription Agreement (SSA) with Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and Vision International Investment Company (Vision Invest), through which the two investors will jointly invest US$300 million in the company.
The agreement was signed at the LEAP 2026 Global Technology exhibition in Riyadh and marks a significant milestone in WIOCC Group’s growth journey. The investment will support the company’s mission to build and operate open-access, critical digital infrastructure across Africa while strengthening the digital ecosystems that underpin the continent’s economic transformation.
The investment comes at a critical time for Africa’s digital development, with demand for data, cloud services and artificial intelligence continuing to rise. 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%. This highlights both the scale of Africa’s digital infrastructure requirements and the significant growth opportunities across the continent.
At the same time, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) projects that 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 reinforce the need for investment in resilient, high-capacity infrastructure capable of expanding digital access, supporting cross-border data flows and helping to reduce the digital divide.
Operating in more than 30 African countries, WIOCC Group has established one of the continent’s most extensive open-access digital infrastructure platforms. The platform enables clients to access new markets and deliver reliable digital services at scale, positioning WIOCC Group as a key enabler of Africa’s continued digital expansion.
Since its establishment, WIOCC Group has been supported by a group of African telecommunications operators and strategic investors, as well as leading international development and investment institutions, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and African Capital Alliance (ACA).
Its shareholders include Uganda Telecom, Dalkom Somalia, Djibouti Telecom, Mozambique Telecom (TMCEL), Zanzibar Telecom (Zantel), Botswana Fibre Networks (BoFiNet), Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA), ONATEL, TelOne and Telkom Kenya.
The support of these leading investors and telecommunications operators has played an important role in WIOCC’s development into one of Africa’s most extensive and trusted digital infrastructure platforms. The company provides connectivity services across the continent while contributing to the continued expansion of Africa’s digital economy.
Commenting on the investment, Samaila Zubairu, President & 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.”
Chris Wood, Group Chief Executive Officer of WIOCC Group, said the investment would help the company execute its long-term growth strategy.
“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,” he explained.
Omar N. Al-Midani, President & Chief Executive Officer of Vision Invest, added that the company was pleased to partner with AFC and WIOCC’s existing shareholders as WIOCC Group enters its next phase of growth.
“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,” Al-Midani said.
Joshua Smythwood, Group Chief Strategy and M&A Officer of WIOCC Group, said the successful completion of the investment represents an important stage in the company’s development.
“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,” he concluded.
The investment brings together AFC’s long-standing commitment to advancing Africa’s economic development, Vision Invest’s experience in developing strategic and impactful infrastructure investments, and WIOCC Group’s established digital footprint and extensive client relationships.
Through the partnership, AFC, Vision Invest and WIOCC aim to accelerate the development of Africa’s digital ecosystem and support the continent’s growing role in the rapidly evolving global digital economy.
About Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)
AFC was established in 2007 to serve as a catalyst for pragmatic infrastructure and industrial investments across Africa. Its approach combines specialist industry expertise with financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and promote sustainable economic growth.
Nineteen years after its establishment, AFC has developed a track record as a partner of choice in Africa for investing in and delivering instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services across the core infrastructure sectors of energy, natural resources, heavy industry, transport and telecommunications.
AFC has 48 member countries and has invested more than US$19 billion in 36 African countries since its inception.
About Vision Invest
Vision Invest is a leading Saudi Arabian infrastructure investment and development company at the forefront of public and private sector partnerships in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond.
The company contributes to sustainable economic development and growth and operates across a wide range of vital sectors, including energy transition, advanced digital infrastructure, resource recovery and preservation, transport and logistics, and social and economic infrastructure.
Its portfolio footprint spans five continents, including Asia, Africa, Australia and South America.
About WIOCC
Africa’s Digital Infrastructure Leader
WIOCC Group is Africa’s leading digital infrastructure platform, building and operating the critical infrastructure that enables intra-African and international connectivity.
Through strategic investments in subsea assets, terrestrial networks, metro infrastructure, hyperscale data centres and digital platforms, WIOCC Group supports the expansion and scalability of digital services across the continent.
Its carrier-neutral, open-access approach connects businesses, communities and digital ecosystems while supporting connectivity, cloud, AI, content delivery and the continued growth of Africa’s digital economy.
End-to-End Enabler of Africa’s Interconnected Digital Ecosystem
Trusted in Africa since 2008, WIOCC Group delivers reliable, scalable and future-ready digital infrastructure that strengthens connectivity, expands access and creates the foundations for sustainable digital and economic growth across the continent.
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