Tizeti, a prominent internet service provider in West Africa and a YCombinator-backed company, is making significant strides in expanding its fiber optic network. In a remarkable feat, the company has installed over 150,000 meters of fiber in key urban centers such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Accra within just three months. This rapid expansion comes on the heels of the launch of its innovative “FREEFIBER.AFRICA” subscription service, which offers users a US IP address, phone number, debit card, and mailing address for a competitive price of $10 per month.
Kendall Ananyi, the founder and CEO of Tizeti, shared insights about the company’s progress in a LinkedIn announcement, stating, “Following our launch on 12/12/24, our expansion has gained significant momentum.” He emphasized that the company’s focus has been on areas outside of gated communities, targeting regions where they can provide unlimited internet service. Ananyi noted that Tizeti has achieved a remarkable minimum penetration rate of 80% in all the communities they serve.
Founded 13 years ago with the mission of delivering affordable internet access across West Africa, Tizeti initially focused on Lagos and Ghana. The company is now setting its sights on further expansion into Côte d’Ivoire and other Francophone West African countries. With backing from investors such as 4DX and Ventures Platform, Tizeti has successfully raised $7.4 million in funding to support its growth initiatives.
Tizeti utilizes undersea cables and solar-powered towers from providers like MainOne to deliver unlimited, uncapped internet services. In 2023, the company secured debt financing from Chapel Hill Denham’s Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund, which has enabled it to expand its broadband network across 15 states in Nigeria.
The recent growth of Tizeti has facilitated the development of the “FREEFIBER.AFRICA” service, which the company claims offers internet speeds that surpass those of both 5G and satellite internet. This positions Tizeti as a competitive player in the internet service market, particularly in regions where high-speed connectivity is in high demand.
Currently, Tizeti serves approximately 3 million subscribers in Nigeria, catering to a diverse customer base that includes residential users, businesses, and hotspot users. The company operates a network of solar-powered base stations across five states, managing over 180 terabytes of data daily, which amounted to more than 35,219 terabytes by December 2023.
Looking ahead, Tizeti has ambitious plans for the future, including long-term aspirations for an Initial Public Offering (IPO), which would further solidify its position in the market and enable continued investment in infrastructure and service expansion.
