Ryan Sher, Group chief operating officer at WIOCC.

WIOCC Group, a pan-African digital infrastructure company, and e&, a global technology group, joined forces in a deal dubbed as Africa's Carriers' Carrier that seeks to grow the hyperscaler ecosystem across Africa.

WIOCC announced the partnership this week during the Africa Tech Festival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa.

The digital infrastructure company explained that this agreement will strengthen e&'s footprint in Africa, in addition to its global reach, which spans 38 markets in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Central and Eastern Europe.

“This partnership aims to enhance mutual capabilities and open up new avenues for growth in underserved and emerging markets across various parts of Africa, including the eastern and southern regions where the majority of hyperscalers operate,” said WIOCC.

It went on to say through the integration of e&’s and WIOCC’s subsea networks, both companies are positioned to meet the increasing demands of their clients by offering "scalable, resilient, and low-latency connectivity solutions."

Nabil Baccouche, group chief carrier and wholesale officer at e&, said on the partnership: “This collaboration drives innovation and economic growth, ensuring businesses and communities across Africa access world-class digital services. Together, e& and WIOCC are committed to advancing Africa’s digital landscape and reinforcing its role as a global technology hub.”

Similarly, Ryan Sher, WIOCC Group's chief operating officer, highlighted WIOCC's capabilities and the mutual benefits of this collaboration: "Our partnership with e& marks a significant step forward in Africa's digital transformation journey."

He noted that WIOCC's infrastructure, along with its local knowledge and extensive regional footprint, enables it to provide specialised, high-capacity connectivity solutions that meet the needs of telcos and hyperscalers.

Sher continued: “Together with e&, we are uniquely positioned to drive innovation, growth and economic impact across Africa, ensuring that businesses and communities benefit from world-class digital solutions.”