WIOCC secures $65m sustainability-linked financing to boost Africa’s digital infrastructure

WIOCC Group, Africa’s foremost open-access digital infrastructure provider, has successfully raised an additional $65 million in sustainability-linked debt financing. The funding, described by the company’s CFO, Samuel Ndung,u as a resounding vote of confidence, will accelerate the expansion of resilient connectivity networks, hyperscale infrastructure, and open-access data centres across the continent.

The facility was arranged by a consortium of leading development finance institutions, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Proparco (part of the AFD Group), the Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF), and fund manager Ninety-One. Lenders highlighted the strategic blend of USD and ZAR-denominated financing, which optimises WIOCC’s capital structure while mitigating currency risks in a volatile economic environment.

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WIOCC CEO Chris Wood welcomed the investment, stating: “This additional financing represents another significant step forward in advancing the resilient, scalable and open-access digital infrastructure required to support Africa’s growth. It strengthens our ability to execute on our long-term vision, expand our hyperscale network and data centre footprint, and continue building the continent’s most open, interconnected digital ecosystem.”

Partners echoed this sentiment, with IFC’s Sarvesh Suri emphasising the deal’s role in advancing digital inclusion, job creation, and economic growth, and Proparco CEO Françoise Lombard praising WIOCC’s evolution into a diversified platform since the group’s support began in 2007.

Founded in 2008, WIOCC has now deployed over $750 million into critical infrastructure, including terrestrial fibre, submarine cables, and carrier-neutral data centres that carry a substantial portion of Africa’s internet traffic. This latest round of funding, backed by institutions committed to sustainable development, solidifies WIOCC’s leadership in fostering inclusive digital transformation, innovation, and economic opportunity throughout the continent