Google has unveiled a major new round of investments aimed at accelerating Africa’s digital transformation, including new subsea infrastructure, free AI tools for students, and fresh funding for research institutions across the continent.
Google announced four strategic subsea cable connectivity hubs in the north, south, east and west regions of Africa, describing the initiative as a way to create “new digital corridors within Africa and between Africa and the rest of the world – ultimately deepening international connectivity and resilience, as well as spurring economic growth and opportunity.”
The hubs are the latest addition to the company’s Africa Connect infrastructure program, which already includes the Google Cloud region in Johannesburg, the Equiano cable along Africa’s western seaboard, and Umoja, the first fiber-optic route directly connecting Africa with Australia through Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
According to Google, its investments to date have enabled 100 million Africans to access the internet for the first time, and the Equiano cable alone is projected to raise real GDP this year by an estimated $11.1 billion in Nigeria, $5.8 billion in South Africa, and $290 million in Namibia.
Youth-Led Learning and Innovation
To empower young innovators, Google is also launching free one-year subscriptions to the Google AI Pro plan for college students aged 18 or older across Africa starting with Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe. The plan provides advanced AI tools, including Deep Research for custom reports and Gemini 2.5 Pro to assist with assignments and writing.
Building Skills and Solutions
The company highlighted its ongoing focus on digital skills, noting it has already trained 7 million Africans and aims to reach 3 million more students, young people, and teachers by 2030. Over the past four years Google has provided African universities and research institutions with more than $17 million in funding, curriculum, training, and access to advanced AI models, and it plans to add another $9 million in the coming year.
Commitment to Africa’s Digital Future
On the announcements, Alex Okosi, Managing Director for Google in Africa, said: “Africa’s digital economy holds immense potential, and it will be driven by the talent and ingenuity of its next generation. Today’s announcements, spanning AI education, advanced tools for students, and expanded connectivity, are a unified investment into the upward trajectory of the continent. We are committed to providing the foundational infrastructure, the cutting-edge tools, and the financial support necessary for Africa’s youth to innovate, lead, and build a thriving digital world.”
These latest pledges build on Google’s long-term $1 billion investment in Africa, which has included expanding connectivity, training millions in digital skills, and supporting 153 startups from 17 African nations through the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa, helping those companies raise $300 million and create 3,500 jobs.
Google emphasized that AI offers an unprecedented opportunity to benefit everyone, and said these initiatives demonstrate its ongoing effort to expand connectivity, increase access to advanced technologies, and enable African-led innovation.
