Investment

US agency to invest $155 million in WIOCC

US agency to invest $155 million in WIOCC

African digital infrastructure provider WIOCC is to receive investment of up to $155 million from the US International Development Finance Corporation.

This aid is seen as highlighting Washington's support for projects it regards as critical to the expansion of US technology companies – and providing alternatives to Chinese technology providers.

As the Reuters news service explains, digital infrastructure such as data centres and fibre networks underpins the deployment of AI services, and the IDFC sees expanding that foundation in Africa as central to US competitiveness.

WIOCC operates undersea cables, fibre networks and data centres in more than 30 African countries. The group operates an open-access and carrier-neutral platform that provides wholesale connectivity and other services.

The Trump administration launched a 'clean network' initiative in his first term, aimed at reducing the use of Chinese telecoms technology, apps and carriers from infrastructure in the US and allied nations. It has continued similar efforts during his second term.

Indeed, there was another example of these efforts earlier this week when we reported that pan-African telecoms firm Africell had secured a US$99.6 million direct loan from the US Export-Import Bank (ExIm) primarily to enable the American-owned company to buy only US and European mobile network equipment.

This is the second major investment WIOCC has attracted this month. In early September Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and Saudi Arabian infrastructure investment and development firm Vision Invest announced plans to invest a combined US$300 million in the company.



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