WIOCC Group Raises US$300 Million for African Data Centres
Africa · TELECOMS
Key Facts
- —Investors Africa Finance Corporation and Vision Invest will invest a combined US$300 million in WIOCC Group.
- —Agreement The Shareholder Subscription Agreement was signed at LEAP 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 1 September 2026.
- —Company WIOCC Group is a carrier-neutral digital infrastructure platform operating in over 30 African countries.
- —Use of funds The capital will support data centre deployment, expand open-access terrestrial fibre, and fund new subsea cable assets.
- —Existing backers Current shareholders include Uganda Telecom, Telkom Kenya, IFC, and African Capital Alliance.
- —Structure undisclosed The split between AFC and Vision Invest and the exact ownership stakes were not disclosed.
Africa Finance Corporation and Saudi Arabia’s Vision Invest will invest a combined US$300 million in WIOCC Group. The funds will boost data centres, fibre, and subsea cables across Africa.
WIOCC Group signed a Shareholder Subscription Agreement with AFC and Vision Invest for US$300 million. The deal was announced at LEAP 2026 in Riyadh on 1 September 2026.
The exact split and ownership stakes were not disclosed, per Reuters. WIOCC Group will fund data centres, fibre network, and subsea cables.
The company is headquartered in Mauritius and operates in more than 30 African countries. It says the investment will strengthen digital ecosystems that underpin Africa’s economic transformation.
Who Is Investing
AFC is a pan-African multilateral finance institution based in Lagos, Nigeria. It funds infrastructure projects across the continent.
Vision Invest is a private Saudi Arabian infrastructure company, owned by Al Muhaidib Group and Abdullah Abunayyan Group. It is not state-owned and not linked to the Public Investment Fund.
Vision Invest’s African Entry
This is the second time AFC and Vision Invest have paired up on an African project. Vision Invest’s first African investment was in Arise IIP in September 2025, a pan-African insurance platform where AFC was already a shareholder.
The new WIOCC deal pairs Gulf capital with African digital backbone infrastructure. No public source suggests a broader Saudi state strategy in African tech from this transaction.
What WIOCC Group Does
WIOCC Group, founded in 2008, owns four units: WIOCC, OADC, Metro Services, and Technical Services. It builds carrier-neutral, open-access networks.
That means telecom operators, internet providers, and cloud companies lease capacity on its infrastructure rather than building their own. WIOCC Group says it has deployed about US$950 million in infrastructure to date.
Existing Shareholders
Shareholders include Uganda Telecom, Dalkom Somalia, Djibouti Telecom, TMCEL, Zantel, and others. Development finance and private equity firms are also shareholders.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank Group’s private-sector arm, is a shareholder. African Capital Alliance, a Nigerian private equity firm, also holds a stake.
Where the Money Goes
The funds will support data centres, fibre network, and subsea cable investments, say the companies. Specific projects or countries were not disclosed.
Executives link expansion to growing data, cloud, and AI demand in Africa. WIOCC Group holds fibre pairs on Equiano and 2Africa Pearls cables, per its website.
What’s Not Disclosed
Public documents do not state how much each investor contributes to the US$300 million figure. They also do not clarify whether the funding is equity, debt, or a mix of instruments.
Reuters confirmed the combined amount but noted the exact split is undisclosed. The resulting ownership stakes for AFC and Vision Invest remain unknown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did WIOCC announce?
WIOCC Group signed a Shareholder Subscription Agreement with AFC and Vision Invest, who will make a combined US$300 million investment.
Who are the investors?
The investors are Africa Finance Corporation, a pan-African multilateral financier, and Vision Invest, a private Saudi Arabian infrastructure firm.
Where was the deal signed?
The agreement was signed at the LEAP 2026 technology conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 1 September 2026.
What will the money be used for?
The funds will support data centre deployment, expand open-access terrestrial fibre, and invest in new subsea cable assets.
How much does each investor contribute?
The exact breakdown between AFC and Vision Invest has not been publicly disclosed.
Connected Coverage
Sources: Africa Finance Corporation press release via APO Group; WIOCC announcement; Reuters; CIO Africa; Africa Private Equity News
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