As pan-African telecommunications group Paratus Group marks its twentieth anniversary, the network services provider is targeting expansion in Central and West Africa, as well as a doubling of its revenue in the next five years.

The group, established in Angola in 2003, has built – and runs – its own network infrastructure; established operating companies in seven Southern African countries, with satellite connectivity in a further 35 countries across the continent; developed points of presence in the US, the UK and Europe; and has built and runs four internationally accredited data centres in three African countries.

“While we are justifiably proud of our achievements so far, we are just getting started and the best is yet to come. Not only do we have the right foundations, the backbone and the know-how, but also the right people and the full-on intent to make real our vision,” said Paratus Group CEO Schalk Erasmus.

Paratus Group, committed to developing Africa’s network and provides low-Earth orbit (LEO), medium-Earth orbit and geostationary satellite services across Africa, has developed and is implementing some key interventions for expansion and revenue growth.

As the company focuses on expansion in Central and West Africa within the next three to five years, and consolidates its expansion into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with Global Broadband Solutions, the continues to deploy global distribution, sales and services agreements with partners in various African countries to provide LEO satellite services to remote, rural and underserved regions.

Paratus is building a fifth first-tier 10 MW data centre in Angola, which will be the company’s largest in that country when construction is completed in the second quarter of 2024, to stimulate the digital economy, capitalise on the opportunities created by subsea cable systems in the region and consolidate the group’s strategy to create a regional hub in Angola.

In addition, the new Paratus teleport in South Africa will be completed before year-end, while the final leg of the Trans Kalahari Network, with cross-border links from Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and Zambia, will be completed this month and the Paratus fibre superhighway from Southern Africa to the world will be opened this year.

Further, the Meta/Paratus fibre network in Zambia, which will provide connectivity to ten towns and cities, will be completed in the first quarter of 2024.

To help realise its ambitious infrastructure expansion plans and boost connectivity across key and currently underserved regions, Paratus Group earlier this month secured funding of $31-million from Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), a private infrastructure development group and fund manager Ninety One.

The transaction was facilitated by 100% Namibian-owned, broad-scoped financial services company Cirrus Capital, which acted as the financial adviser and lead arranger on the transaction for Paratus Group.