US-based tech company, Google, has unveiled plans to build four new subsea cable hubs across the African corridors to boost Internet connectivity.
The Managing Director for Google in Africa, Alex Okosi, revealed this in a statement sent to Techpoint Africa on Thursday, September 18, 2025.
Google, whose transatlantic cable infrastructure Equiano serves about four African countries, said the new projects will serve no fewer than 18 nations on the continent.
“This is the latest addition to Google’s Africa Connect infrastructure program. The initiative enables the company to establish vital connectivity across the continent.
“It includes the Google Cloud region in Johannesburg serving users across the continent, the Equiano cable running along the entire western seaboard of the continent, and Umoja, the first fibre optic route to directly connect Africa with Australia,” the statement read.
Okosi added that the cable infrastructure will begin from Egypt down to South Africa, and other key cities in countries like Namibia, Nigeria, and Kenya, among others.
New $9 million investment in AI funding
Apart from the subsea infrastructure cable hubs, Google is also investing $9 million for training and research in artificial intelligence (AI) for African universities and research institutions.
Okosi stated that the plan is to empower young Africans in AI skills and research, targeting about 3 million students in total.
Per the statement, Google is also bolstering local capacity by providing African universities and research institutions with over $17 million in funding, curriculum, training, and compute and access to advanced AI models over the past four years, with an additional $9 million planned for the coming year.
Africa’s tech market is increasingly becoming a burgeoning hub for AI infrastructure and research.
According to a recent report, 78% of Africa’s youth report using AI tools every week. In addition, many are increasingly adopting different AI-driven skills, including machine learning and cloud engineering.
Countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya are at the forefront of this innovation, attracting millions of dollars in investment inflow annually.
Google’s footprint in Africa
These new investments build on Google’s long-standing involvement in Africa. The company has previously helped bring Internet access to over 100 million Africans, trained over 7 million people in digital skills and supported startups across 17 countries.
Google’s Africa Connect infrastructure programme is part of the company’s long-term commitment to expanding digital access and economic opportunity on the continent.
The company has previously launched key projects such as the Equiano cable and the Umoja route. Its investments also include digital skills training for millions of Africans and support for startups through funding and incubation initiatives.
