Africa-Press – Rwanda. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) announced it will invest up to $155 million in WIOCC, a provider of digital infrastructure in Africa, reaffirming Washington’s support for projects deemed vital for the expansion of American technology companies.
Washington has intensified its support for telecommunications and digital infrastructure projects in Africa as part of its efforts to provide alternatives to Chinese technology providers like Huawei, including a $100 million loan to the American-owned telecommunications company Africell.
Ben Black, the CEO of the corporation, stated, “The president and the DFC are committed to winning the artificial intelligence race for America.”
Digital infrastructure—such as data centers and fiber optic networks—is a cornerstone for deploying artificial intelligence services, and the corporation believes that expanding this foundation in Africa is essential for enhancing American competitiveness.
Black added, “This investment—the largest of its kind for the corporation in equity at up to $155 million—will help build the next generation of digital infrastructure necessary for Africa’s growth, relying on reliable networks that support American companies seeking to expand in one of the world’s most vibrant markets.”
The corporation noted that it will provide this equity investment in collaboration with Vision Invest and the African Finance Corporation.
WIOCC, headquartered in Johannesburg, manages submarine cables, fiber optic networks, and data centers in over 30 African countries, and this investment step will help the company “enhance vital digital infrastructure across Africa,” according to the American corporation.
The corporation indicated that “this investment aligns with U.S. strategic interests in supporting major American technology companies (large-scale cloud service providers) and the American technology ecosystem.” The agency added that WIOCC has been the preferred partner for American technology companies expanding in Africa.
The group operates an open-access and neutral platform (not affiliated with a specific telecommunications company) that provides wholesale connectivity services and others. The Trump administration launched the “Clean Network” initiative during its first term, aiming to limit the use of Chinese telecommunications technology, applications, and companies in infrastructure within the United States and allied countries, and continued similar efforts during its second term.
Last year, Trump signed an executive order requiring U.S. agencies to enhance the use of American technology abroad, particularly in artificial intelligence, data storage in data centers, cloud services, and networking technologies. Recent American investments in data centers in Africa include an $80 million facility in Kenya, executed by the American company Digital Realty and its Kenyan brand Icolo, a project announced this month.
