#FibeRising Africa

Our Background:
CSquared started as a project within Google in 2011. The project aimed to build metropolitan fiber optic networks, which would be leased by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) on a wholesale model, and as a neutral operator of shared infrastructures. The long-term vision for Google was to increase Internet penetration in Sub-Saharan Africa and also to reduce Internet access costs by investing in the required infrastructure. As the internet is a global lever for development, the lease/partnership of a wholesale last mile fiber network would ultimately carry many secondary benefits.

Our Structure:
In October 2017, in order to accelerate the scope of the project, Google entered into a joint venture with Mitsui & Co (Japan), Convergence Partners (South Africa) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC, World Bank Group). CSquared became an independent company with these four shareholders, putting their expertise and experience to work. Together, they have made available 100 million USD to lead expansion projects in new markets.

Our infrastructure:
CSquared currently owns and operates over 7000 Km of metropolitan fiber in Uganda, Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, DR Congo & Togo. Over 7000 Customer sites connected on our fiber: base stations, enterprises, SMEs, etc.

CSquared is a technology company, making commercially driven investments into broadband-enabling infrastructure throughout Africa.

Our Journey

Where we started

We first launched CSquared in the East African city of Kampala, Uganda. Kampala is home to 1.6 million people and many small businesses who are ready to connect on a wider scale. CSquared’s fiber and Wi-Fi infrastructure helps to meet the city’s network demands.

Where we are

CSquared has expanded to West Africa, building shared infrastructure solutions in Ghana’s cities, Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Kumasi. Ghana has already demonstrated a commitment to promoting an environment conducive to Internet growth, and we look forward to furthering this work by building high-quality Internet.

Where we are going

Internet networks struggle to support access and bandwidth demands.This phenomenon is witnessed across Africa and CSquared aims to remedy this issue by laying networks that is available to all local providers. By providing better infrastructure, we want to bring all people closer to fast, reliable Internet access.

Our Mission

While a basic connection is useful when it comes to Internet access, abundant, affordable broadband can transform communities and help people make the most of opportunities online. By investing in internet infrastructure and making it available to local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and mobile network operators (MNOs), CSquared helps bring high-quality broadband access to Africa’s major cities.

CSquared is thus driven to makes commercially driven investments into broad-band enabling infrastructure to ensure abundant access for all. 

Our Impact on the Telecom / Internet Market

With the advent of 3G and 4G, and as we moved forward towards 5G it is clear that demand for data is growing exponentially around the world. Nevertheless, we are seeing a basic infrastructure deficit in emerging markets; infrastructures which nonetheless constitute the essential foundations for the emergence of services. Indeed, the costs associated with this type of deployment (buried fiber: civil engineering works) represent significant investments that only certain providers are able to achieve.

Our investment therefore allows the entire Mobile Operator and ISP ecosystem to access basic infrastructure at affordable prices; Affordable prices because our pooling model ensures a viable and profitable business model. In addition, our neutral positioning guarantees transparency and fairness. Moreover, the concomitant opportunity related to the presence of our fiber is the deployment of FTTH access network (Fiber to the Home) that allow users (homes or businesses) to access unlimited speeds and quota.

The presence of our infrastructure will in the short term increase the coverage of access networks, improve the quality of Telecommunications & Internet services, and above all offer better prices to end-users.

CSquared is about unleashing what is possible when cities are better connected. Networks with greatly expanded capacity support service providers in building a stronger web in Africa and around the world.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is CSquared?

CSquared is a technology company, making commercially driven investments into broadband-enabling infrastructure throughout Africa.

What does CSquared do?

CSquared deploys wholesale open access technology across cities to enable Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to be able to offer broadband faster and more reliably to their customers,  the end user.

Who owns CSquared?

In October 2017, in order to accelerate the scope of the project, Google entered into a joint venture with Mitsui & Co (Japan), Convergence Partners (South Africa) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC, World Bank Group). CSquared became an independent company with these four shareholders, putting their expertise and experience to work.

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

We provide the best value to our customers by continuously refining our processes and cost structure.