The Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF), managed by Ninety One, has announced a significant investment aimed at strengthening Africa’s digital infrastructure. The fund will inject $15 million into WIOCC, a leading pan-African provider of wholesale telecommunications infrastructure. This investment is designed to accelerate WIOCC’s efforts to expand high-speed connectivity across the continent.
In addition to this, Ninety One has committed a further $15 million in local currency to Open Access Data Centres (OADC)—a subsidiary of the WIOCC Group. This funding will support the construction of a new state-of-the-art data centre in South Africa and the expansion of existing facilities, reinforcing the region’s capacity for cloud services and digital transformation.
These investments will enable WIOCC to scale its services across more than 30 African countries, leveraging its extensive infrastructure network. Currently, WIOCC operates approximately 75,000 km of terrestrial fibre and holds capacity on over 200,000 km of submarine cables, forming a critical backbone for Africa’s digital economy.
Commenting on the announcement, Puleng Pitso, Investment Specialist at Ninety One, emphasized the transformative impact of digital connectivity:
Digital connectivity is one of the most powerful enablers of economic growth in Africa. By expanding access to high-speed internet, we are unlocking opportunities for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and industries to thrive in the digital economy. EAAIF’s investment in WIOCC will help strengthen the foundations for inclusive growth, job creation, and innovation across the continent.
