DUBAI, Sept 1 – WIOCC Group has secured a combined $300 million investment from Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and Vision International Investment Company (Vision Invest), strengthening the digital infrastructure company’s capacity to expand connectivity and data infrastructure across Africa.
The investment was formalised through a Shareholder Subscription Agreement signed during the LEAP 2026 Global Technology exhibition in Riyadh. The transaction comes as demand for data, cloud computing and artificial intelligence services accelerates across the continent, increasing the need for high-capacity and reliable digital infrastructure.
WIOCC operates in more than 30 African countries and has developed an open-access digital infrastructure platform connecting businesses and telecommunications operators across the continent. Its existing shareholder base includes African telecommunications companies and strategic investors, alongside international development and investment institutions such as the International Finance Corporation and African Capital Alliance.
The scale of Africa’s infrastructure gap remains substantial. According to the International Telecommunication Union, 35.7% of Africa’s population was using the internet in 2025, compared with a global average of 73.6%. The disparity highlights both the continent’s connectivity challenge and the potential for further investment in digital networks.
The growth of artificial intelligence and cloud services is adding another layer of demand. UNCTAD estimates that the global AI market could reach $4.8 trillion by 2033, while noting that access to AI capabilities and the infrastructure required to support them remains concentrated among a relatively limited number of countries and companies.
For WIOCC, the new capital is expected to support a broad expansion programme spanning data centres, terrestrial fibre and subsea connectivity. The company plans to accelerate the deployment and consolidation of data centres, expand its open-access fibre network and invest in additional subsea assets linking African markets with international connectivity hubs.
AFC President and Chief Executive Officer Samaila Zubairu said the investment reflects the growing importance of digital infrastructure to Africa’s economic development. According to Zubairu, “The Africa we build must be connected, competitive and equipped to create value from the digital economy, not only consume it.”
He added that “fibre, data centres and subsea cables are now essential infrastructure for growth, innovation and AI,” positioning the investment as part of efforts to strengthen the digital backbone needed for African businesses and communities to participate in global markets.
WIOCC Group Chief Executive Officer Chris Wood said the investment would allow the company to advance its long-term expansion strategy as demand for digital services increases. According to Wood, “robust and scalable infrastructure will be essential to unlocking the continent’s potential.”
Vision Invest President and Chief Executive Officer Omar N. Al-Midani said Africa’s demographic trajectory would continue to drive demand for connectivity and digital services. He noted that the continent’s population is expected to represent more than one-quarter of the global population by 2050, creating opportunities for investment in digital ecosystems and infrastructure.
WIOCC Group Chief Strategy and M&A Officer Joshua Smythwood said the transaction would strengthen the company’s financial position and provide greater capacity to expand its market presence and respond to the changing requirements of customers across Africa.
The investment brings together AFC’s development-financing role, Vision Invest’s infrastructure investment capabilities and WIOCC’s existing digital infrastructure footprint. The partnership comes at a time when African economies are seeking to expand digital access, strengthen regional connectivity and capture more value from the growth of cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
For WIOCC, the immediate focus will be on deploying capital across physical digital infrastructure, including fibre networks, data centres and subsea systems. The expansion could also strengthen connections between African markets and international digital hubs, supporting the movement of data and the delivery of digital services across borders.
The transaction underscores the growing role of digital infrastructure as a core component of Africa’s economic infrastructure, alongside transport, energy and telecommunications networks. As demand for data-intensive technologies continues to increase, investment in reliable and open-access infrastructure will remain central to narrowing the continent’s digital divide and supporting its participation in the global digital economy.
