US DFC Plans $155M WIOCC Investment Across Africa

The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation will invest up to $155 million in Johannesburg-based WIOCC, its largest equity investment to date, to strengthen digital infrastructure across more than 30 African countries. WIOCC operates submarine cables, terrestrial fiber networks, data centers and wholesale connectivity services, with the funding intended to expand capacity for cloud computing, data services and artificial intelligence. The investment, made alongside Vision Invest and the Africa Finance Corporation, supports Washington’s effort to help U.S. technology companies expand in Africa through open and trusted networks. It also reflects the Trump administration’s broader strategy of providing alternatives to Chinese telecommunications suppliers such as Huawei and competing more effectively in artificial intelligence.