Csquared
Founded 2017 · 165 employees on LinkedIn · 2 known investors
CSquared provides high-speed broadband infrastructure and connectivity solutions to major cities across Africa, enabling digital access for communities and service providers. The company builds and operates shared transmission infrastructure to reduce capital and operating costs while accelerating connectivity deployment.
Also known as C Squared · CSquared
Investors · 2
Also in the syndicate · 1
Company profile
researched Aug 2026CSquared is a technology and digital infrastructure company that invests in, builds and operates open-access broadband-enabling infrastructure in African cities. It deploys wholesale, carrier-neutral metropolitan fibre networks and related connectivity services that Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and 4G/LTE operators use to deliver broadband to end users, rather than serving retail consumers itself.
The company positions shared infrastructure as a way to remove network build and management burdens from service providers, reduce their capital and operating costs for transmission, shorten the time needed to connect base stations, and support subsequent network expansion. Its stated mission is investment in open-access infrastructure to optimise service delivery by ISPs and MNOs, under the vision of "A Digitally Connected Africa". CSquared began in 2011 as a project inside Google before becoming a standalone pan-African company.
Founding story
CSquared was launched in 2011 as a project within Google, with the stated ambition of building metropolitan fibre optic networks in Sub-Saharan Africa, before operating as an independent company.
Business model
CSquared owns and operates shared, open-access fibre and broadband-enabling infrastructure and sells wholesale capacity and connectivity to service providers on a carrier-neutral basis, positioning itself as an infrastructure layer rather than a retail operator.
Wholesale leasing of fibre and transmission capacity to MNOs, ISPs and other operators, with flexible commercial structures including monthly leases under long-term contracts and indefeasible rights of use (IRU).
Traction
Company-reported figures include more than 100 customers (MNOs, ISPs and 4G/LTE operators), over 8,000 customer sites connected, more than 7,500 km of metro fibre operated, over 15 connected data centres, and 9,000-plus manholes, handholes and breakout points.
Latest developments
Recent company communications describe adding 2Africa West subsea capacity to strengthen regional internet resilience, work on digital infrastructure in Liberia, and the build-out of its DRC operations.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
A pan-African open-access wholesale fibre provider with operations in multiple Sub-Saharan markets, backed by development finance and private investors including the International Finance Corporation, Convergence Partners and the International Development Association, and describing itself as a trusted PPP partner with a track record in commercialising carrier-neutral networks.
Focus solely on infrastructure rather than retail services, an open-access and carrier-neutral model that lets multiple competing operators share the same network, flexible lease and IRU payment options, and a stated 99.999% availability across its fibre footprint.
Technology
Metropolitan fibre optic networks operated on an open-access, carrier-neutral basis, with over 7,500 km of metro fibre, 9,000-plus manholes, handholes and breakout points for rapid site connection, connections to more than 15 data centres (including PAIX, iColo, EADC and Edgnex), and a reported 99.999% service level availability. The company also has points of presence in Nigeria, South Africa and Portugal on the Equiano subsea cable and has added 2Africa West capacity.
Go-to-market
Direct wholesale sales to licensed operators and service providers in its markets, supplemented by public-private partnerships with governments and development finance institutions (including USAID and USTDA), partnerships with global international carriers, and localised partnerships with civil works contractors for network build.
Mobile network operators, internet service providers and 4G/LTE operators, plus connectivity to data centres, enterprises and SMEs; the company reports serving over 100 providers.
Geography
Operations in Uganda, Ghana, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Togo, with company materials also citing Kenya among its operating markets, and points of presence in Nigeria, South Africa and Portugal on the Equiano cable.
History
After starting inside Google in 2011, CSquared established operations in six African markets: Uganda, Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Togo. In October 2017 a consortium of investors, including the International Finance Corporation and Convergence Partners, invested in the company. In November 2023 CSquared announced $25 million in new equity funding described as the first tranche of a larger investment programme to fund continental expansion, and concurrently bought out Google's founding stake on undisclosed terms; FTI Capital Advisors advised on both the raise and the buy-out.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 4
launches, deals, and filingsCompany news item on adding 2Africa West subsea cable capacity to strengthen regional internet resilience.
CSquared brought in $25 million in equity funding, described as the first tranche of an investment programme to finance further expansion and growth across Africa. Participants included the International Finance Corporation, Convergence Partners and the International Development Association. FTI Capital Advisors, led from its Dubai office, advised on the raise.
$25M source ↗
Following the equity raise, CSquared bought out Google, which had held a stake in the company since its inception. Terms were not disclosed. FTI Capital Advisors guided the deal.
A consortium of investors, including the International Finance Corporation and Convergence Partners, came on board as CSquared shareholders.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- Csquaredcsquared.com · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Csquared do?
- CSquared builds and operates open-access, carrier-neutral metro fibre infrastructure for ISPs and mobile operators across Africa.
- Who are Csquared's investors?
- Csquared's investors include Convergence Partners.