Csquared

What Csquared does

CSquared is a pan-African wholesale open-access broadband infrastructure provider headquartered in Port Louis, Mauritius, with operational headquarters in Accra, Ghana. The company builds and operates metro fiber and backbone networks on a carrier-neutral basis across five active markets — Uganda, Ghana, Liberia, DRC, and Togo — plus points of presence in Nigeria, South Africa, and Portugal, totaling 7,000+ km of fiber connecting 8,000+ customer sites and 15+ data centers. Its technical foundation is DWDM and IP/MPLS optical transport with bandwidth tiers from 1G to 100G+, complemented by exclusive landing-partner access to Google's Equiano subsea cable (144 Tbit/s design capacity) through the CSquared Woezon joint venture in Togo.

CSquared serves Mobile Network Operators (MTN Uganda, Airtel Uganda, Orange Liberia), Internet Service Providers, tower operators (Helios, ATC), hyperscalers and content providers, and government institutions (Liberian government, BNC National Security Communications project, LTA), with enterprise-grade SLAs and a product portfolio spanning backbone transport, IP transit, IPLC, data center connectivity, CLS backhaul, FTTX, FTTH, public Wi-Fi, and port fiber. Revenue is generated primarily through long-term wholesale contracts, with billing options including monthly recurring charges (MRC) and Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) arrangements.

The company was founded as a Google project in 2011, became independent in 2017 with a $100M joint venture backed by Google, Mitsui & Co., Convergence Partners, and IFC, and in November 2023 raised an additional $25M (first tranche of a $65M program) from CPDIF, IFC, and the IDA Private Sector Window, with CPDIF concurrently acquiring Google's stake. Recent strategic priorities include the Lagos-to-Accra terrestrial route launched in May 2025 and the broader West African Super Highway expansion announced in August 2025, alongside ongoing leadership transition following the April 2024 departure of CEO Lanre Kolade.

Name

Csquared

Legal name

CSquared Link Holdings (Mauritius) Limited

Website

https://csquared.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CSquared is a pan-African wholesale open-access broadband infrastructure provider operating 7,000+ km of fiber across Uganda, Ghana, Liberia, DRC, and Togo. It serves mobile operators, ISPs, tower companies, governments, and enterprises with carrier-neutral metro fiber, backbone transport, and Equiano subsea cable access.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wholesale Broadband Infrastructure

NAICS

Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing (335921), Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111)

SIC

Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) (4813), Computer Communications Equipment (3576)

akta.pro primary industry

Subsea & Terrestrial Backhaul to Data Centers and Cloud On-Ramps (IX/DC Interconnect) (HDAIALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wholesale Wavelength, Spectrum & Dark Fiber Providers (IRU/Leases) (HDAIALAI)

Keywords

• Open-access broadband infrastructure
• Wholesale fiber networks
• Metro fiber connectivity
• Subsea cable services
• Telecom infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Fiber Leasing: CSquared builds and operates fiber optic networks and leases fiber capacity to mobile network operators (MNOs), internet service providers (ISPs), and enterprises on a wholesale basis. Revenue is generated through long-term contracts with flexible billing options including monthly recurring charges (MRC) and Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) arrangements.
2. IP Transit Services: Top-tier IP transit services via Equiano subsea cable, providing operators, ISPs, telcos, content providers, and enterprises with internet connectivity. Port options include 1G, 10G, and 100G with direct access to global internet routes.
3. Backbone and Transmission Services: National and regional backbone connectivity services connecting landlocked countries, metro areas, and smaller towns with bandwidth from 1G to 100G+.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CSquared builds and operates metro and backbone fiber optic networks across Africa, leasing wholesale capacity to mobile network operators, internet service providers, and enterprises on an open-access basis. The company delivers connectivity services via its own fiber infrastructure, DWDM/IP/MPLS backbone, and access to Google's Equiano subsea cable system, with bandwidth options from 1G to 100G+.

Product overview

CSquared is a pan-African technology company operating as a wholesale open-access broadband infrastructure provider. The company offers a unified portfolio of fiber optic connectivity products organized around core infrastructure services: Backbone (national/regional DWDM and IP/MPLS networks), Metro Fiber solutions (FTTX, FTTH, Port Fiber, Public Wi-Fi), Subsea solutions (Equiano cable, CLS Backhaul), and Global Connectivity (IP Transit, IPLC, Data Center Connectivity). The portfolio enables Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and enterprises to access shared infrastructure on a wholesale, carrier-neutral basis. All products are backed by Service Level Agreements and support bandwidth options from 1G to 100G+.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CSquared Woezon: Joint venture between CSquared and Société des Infrastructures Numériques (SIN) for Togo operations, managing Equiano cable landing and terrestrial fiber networks

Products and services

• Backbone National and regional fiber connectivity service connecting landlocked countries, metro areas, and smaller towns. Built on DWDM and IP/MPLS networks with bandwidth options from 1G to 100G+, with MRC or IRU billing options and proactive monitoring.
• IP Transit Top-tier IP transit services via the Equiano subsea cable, providing operators, ISPs, telcos, content providers, and enterprises with internet connectivity. Port options include 1G, 10G, and 100G with direct access to global internet routes via Points of Presence in Togo, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and Portugal.
• IPLC (International Private Leased Circuit) Private leased lines providing secure and reliable communication within countries on the west coast of Africa, with extended services between the west coast of Africa and Portugal for enterprises with international operations.
• Data Center Connectivity Connectivity solutions to all data centers within CSquared's coverage areas, offering optimized traffic flow management, robust disaster recovery, reduced latency, and expanded global networking capabilities.
• Equiano Subsea Cable Connectivity Subsea cable connectivity service connecting Togo, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa to Portugal via Google's Equiano cable. The 15,000 km cable has design capacity of 144 Tbit/s using space-division multiplexing technology and optical switching at the fiber-pair level.
• CLS Backhaul Connectivity High-capacity, low-latency backhaul solutions providing efficient data transfer from cable landing stations to desired endpoints. Features advanced security, comprehensive monitoring, low latency, resilient infrastructure, and scalability.
• Fiber to the X (FTTX) Comprehensive fiber optic network solutions including Fiber to the Home (FTTH), Fiber to the Building (FTTB), Fiber to the Curb (FTTC), and Fiber to the Node (FTTN). Delivers high-speed broadband connectivity with future-proof technology.
• Fiber To The Home (FTTH) High-quality home fiber internet with Wi-Fi enabled router/ONU, one-time installation by certified technicians, simplified billing, scalable solutions, proactive service monitoring, and advanced security protocols.
• Public Wi-Fi Public Wi-Fi service designed for busy individuals on the move, offering affordable access, reliable connectivity, extensive coverage, and low latency for smooth streaming and fast loading times.
• Port Fiber Managed ethernet solution providing fiber links interconnecting two or more sites/locations. Designed for low capacity users with SLA of 95%, affordable pricing, simplified billing, scalable solutions, and proactive service monitoring.

Quantifiable outcome

• Near 3x revenue growth from 2018-2024 under former CEO leadership
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Phase3coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2025Strategic partnership to commission Lagos-to-Accra terrestrial fiber route. Phase3 is a licensed telecommunications operator headquartered in Abuja, expanding into ECOWAS region. Voted 'National Fiber Infrastructure Provider of the Year' for three consecutive years.
• SBIN (Société Béninoise d'Infrastructures Numériques)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2025Benin's national digital infrastructure operator partnered to extend fiber networks across West Africa. SBIN manages national fiber backbone and enables Benin to position as key ECOWAS connectivity hub.
• Angola CablessecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 12 May 2022CSquared Ghana appointed as reseller partner for Angola Cables to extend wholesale and IT solutions to customers in Ghana and across Africa including Togo, DRC, Uganda, Kenya, and Liberia. Access to Angola Cables' high-capacity, low-latency international network.
• Société des Infrastructures Numériques (SIN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2022Joint venture CSquared Woezon formed in 2021 for Togo operations. SIN holds 44% stake while CSquared holds 56%. JV manages Equiano submarine cable landing, e-Government metro fiber network, and CEB fiber backbone operations in Togo.
• GRIDCo (Ghana Grid Company Limited)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 April 2021Partnership for leasing GRIDCo's excess fiber capacity (OPGW fiber) to mobile network operators and ISPs in Ghana. GRIDCo's Optical Ground Wire System serves dual purpose of lightning protection and fiber communications. CSquared provides customer support, network security, and last-mile connectivity under the #FiberForAll initiative.
• LEC (Liberia Electricity Corporation)secondaryTechnology or IntegrationLiberia Electricity Corporation provides utility infrastructure (power lines) that CSquared leverages for fiber backbone deployment, partially utilizing LEC infrastructure for the 350km backbone.
• SCPT (Société Congolaise des Postes et Télécommunications)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in DRC with national posts and telecommunications corporation for digital infrastructure development.
• LITSU (Liberia Information Technology Students Union)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Girls in ICT Day 2026, training over 100 female high school students in AI, Data Science, Digital Marketing, Cybersecurity, and Web Development to address digital gender gap.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bayobab (MTN GlobalConnect): MTN Group's wholesale and infrastructure business operating subsea cables (2Africa, WACS) and terrestrial fiber across Africa. Direct competitor leveraging MTN's MNO base as anchor tenants for wholesale capacity.
• MainOne (Equinix): West African subsea cable operator (now owned by Equinix) delivering wholesale connectivity and data center services from Portugal down the West African coast. Direct competitor to CSquared's Equiano-driven IP Transit and IPLC offerings.
• SEACOM: Subsea cable operator and wholesale connectivity provider serving the East and West coasts of Africa, with terrestrial fiber extensions. Direct competitor to CSquared's IP Transit and IPLC offerings; CSquared's new CCO Willem Marais previously served as CCO at SEACOM.
• Liquid Intelligent Technologies: Pan-African wholesale fiber and connectivity operator (part of Cassava Technologies) operating metro and long-haul fiber across Southern, Eastern and now West Africa. Most direct competitor to CSquared in open-access wholesale broadband on the continent.
• WIOCC: Wholesale carriers'-carrier operating high-capacity fiber networks across Africa, with subsea cable investments and open-access metro fiber in multiple African markets. Highly comparable carrier-neutral wholesale model to CSquared.
• Angola Cables: Subsea cable operator and wholesale connectivity provider connecting Africa to the Americas and Europe. CSquared Ghana is a reseller partner for Angola Cables; comparable carrier's-carrier wholesale model targeting MNOs and ISPs in Africa.
• Phase3 Telecom: Nigerian-licensed open-access fiber operator with extensive West African terrestrial backbone; CSquared's strategic partner on the Lagos–Accra route. Directly comparable in business model and target customer set.

Others

• Helios Towers: Independent tower company operating in Africa; an anchor tenant-class customer of CSquared's fiber for tower backhaul. Adjacent infrastructure peer in the African digital ecosystem rather than a direct fiber competitor.

Emerging players

• Paratus Group: Pan-African telecommunications operator offering fiber, data center and connectivity services with growing footprint in Southern and East Africa. Compares on wholesale fiber and carrier-neutral model, though smaller and more regionally concentrated than CSquared.
• Open Access Data Centres (OADC): Africa-focused carrier-neutral data center operator with collocation and interconnection services. Complementary rather than competing with CSquared's data center connectivity product; relevant as a downstream interconnection partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CSquared_Africa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/csquaredafrica
• Facebookfacebook.com/csquaredafricagroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Csquared