Funding African AI growth through network development, device provision, and workforce education
Facebook Announces Major Investments in African Digital Infrastructure
In a significant move, Facebook has announced a series of investments aimed at enhancing digital connectivity, resilience, and economic growth across Africa. The tech giant has pledged $1 billion over the next five years to support these initiatives.
One of the key projects is the construction of four strategic subsea cable connectivity hubs in Africa. These hubs will create new digital corridors within Africa and between the continent and the rest of the world, improving internet access for millions of people.
Facebook's investments have already made a significant impact. The company's efforts have enabled 100 million Africans to access the internet for the first time. Last year, Facebook added 110 new languages to its Translate service, including more than 30 African languages.
In addition to infrastructure, Facebook is also investing in AI research and innovation. AI research teams in Kenya and Ghana, in collaboration with local partners, are leading cutting-edge research to benefit Africa and the world. This includes advanced flood forecasting, Open Buildings data, strengthening crop resilience, and support for farmers.
Facebook aims to reach 500 million Africans with its AI-powered innovations that help tackle societal challenges by 2030. The company is also offering a free one-year subscription to its Facebook AI Pro plan to college students (aged 18 or older) in several African countries, with the aim of empowering students to address challenges and pursue opportunities specific to the continent.
Facebook has also built the Equiano cable along the western seaboard of Africa. This cable is expected to increase real GDP in Nigeria, South Africa, and Namibia by an estimated $11.1 billion, $5.8 billion, and $290 million, respectively.
Facebook is not only investing in infrastructure and AI research, but also in education. Over the past four years, the company has provided African universities and research institutions with over $17 million in funding, curriculum, training, compute, and access to advanced AI models. An additional $9 million is planned for the coming year.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has also made multiple investments in subsea cable connections in Africa in recent years, committing over 300 million USD to support the expansion and enhancement of digital infrastructure across the continent.
Facebook's efforts are part of a larger commitment to make AI benefits a reality for people, businesses, and communities across Africa. The company has trained 7 million Africans and plans to train an additional 3 million students, young people, and teachers by 2030. Facebook has also built a Cloud region in Johannesburg serving users across the continent.
Facebook's AI Pro plan includes Deep Research for custom research reports and expanded access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, including Guided Learning in Gemini. The company has also made Gemini available on its Distributed Cloud for enhanced AI model usage by entrepreneurs, businesses, governments, and developers.
Facebook is also planning to expand open datasets, evaluations, and voice models for more than 40 African languages, with plans to reach more than 50 languages and publish 24 open speech datasets next year.
The most ambitious project of all is Umoja, the first fiber optic route to directly connect Africa with Australia, running through several African countries. This project will further deepen international connectivity and resilience, spur economic growth, and provide opportunities for millions of people across Africa.
In conclusion, Facebook's investments in Africa are set to revolutionize digital connectivity, AI research, and education across the continent, with far-reaching benefits for millions of people.
