Fibre and satellite connectivity provider Paratus Group secured a US$31 million debt facility from Private Infrastructure Development Group, to expand its fibre and data centre business in Africa into 2026.
Paratus said in a statement the cash will deliver more reliable internet services across six Sub-Saharan African countries: Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Republic of Congo, South Africa and Zambia.
The company’s fibre expansion will involve three new fibre routes connecting Walvis Bay-Johannesburg-Maputo, Brazzaville-Johannesburg-Maputo, and Luanda-Lusaka-Dar Es Salaam, adding to a fibre network of over 10,000km. These lines will connect the east and west coast, thereby enhancing connectivity, data transmission and access to digital services.
The capital will be mobilised by investment manager Ninety One, from two funds Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) and Ninety One Africa Credit Opportunities.
The investment from EAIF will finance the construction of Angola’s first tier four data centre, Paratus’ fifth carrier neutral data centre in Southern Africa, adding to two tier three data centres in the Angolan capital of Luanda. The new data centre will be a 10MW facility and connect to the Equiano subsea cable, which connects to Europe and the West African coast.
Paratus CEO Schalk Erasmus said: “Widening access to fibre and data centres in key African markets will progress development and inclusive growth - maximising opportunities in countries where entrepreneurial spirit abounds. EAIF and Ninety One’s commitment sends the right signal to the rest of the market and reinforces our mission to support a more connected and technologically advanced Africa.”
Paratus announced recently two new fibre links in Mozambique.
