–Announces free one-year subscriptions to Google AI Pro plan for students (18 or older) across the continent
Google has announced the launch of four strategic subsea cable connectivity hubs across Africa, a move projected to deliver billions of dollars in economic gains for countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, and Namibia.
This comes even as the Equiano cable alone is expected to boost real GDP this year by an estimated $11.1 billion in Nigeria, $5.8 billion in South Africa, and $290 million in Namibia.
The hubs, positioned in the north, south, east, and west of the continent, will establish new digital corridors within Africa and between Africa and the rest of the world. This expansion, part of Google’s Africa Connect infrastructure program, is designed to deepen international connectivity and resilience while spurring broader economic growth and opportunity.
The investment underscores Google’s nearly two-decade commitment to Africa’s digital transformation. By improving connectivity, the company is laying stronger foundations for innovation, entrepreneurship, and access to global markets.
“These hubs are not just about faster internet,” Google explained. “They are about empowering Africa’s next generation through AI, unlocking opportunities, and expanding the innovation capacity of young Africans.”
Beyond connectivity, Google’s latest commitments also focus on youth-led learning, innovation, and skills training—ensuring that African talent is positioned to harness the benefits of the digital economy.
The subsea hubs build on earlier investments under the Africa Connect program, which include the Google Cloud region in Johannesburg, the Equiano subsea cable running along Africa’s western seaboard, and Umoja, the first fibre optic route to directly connect Africa with Australia through Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
Google’s impact is already visible: more than 100 million Africans have come online for the first time through its investments, with the new hubs set to further accelerate digital inclusion and economic growth across the continent.
Youth-led learning and innovation
Enabling Africa’s young people to learn, innovate and lead is critical to Africa’s development and economic growth. That’s why Google is today also announcing free one-year subscriptions to Google AI Pro plan for college students (18 or older) across the continent – starting with Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
The subscription provides advanced AI to students – from Deep Research, which helps save time with custom research reports and in-depth information from hundreds of sources across the web, to Gemini 2.5 Pro, which provides help with assignments or writing.
Building skills and solutions
Equipping people with AI skills is critical. To date, Google has trained 7 million Africans and plans to train an additional 3 million students, young people, and teachers by 2030.
Google is also bolstering local capacity by providing African universities and research institutions with over $17 million in funding, curriculum, training and compute and access to advanced AI models over the past four years – with an additional $9 million planned for the coming year.
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.”
Google’s long-term partnership
These announcements are the latest chapter in Google’s long-term investment in the continent, which has delivered on $1 billion of investment.
Google’s sustained commitment to Africa has included driving connectivity; training more than 7 million people across the continent in digital skills to support the future workforce; and supporting 153 startups from 17 African nations through the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa, helping them raise $300 million and create 3,500 jobs.
AI creates an unprecedented opportunity to benefit everyone, and Google is committed to making that a reality for people, businesses and communities across Africa. Today’s announcements are another example of how Google is continuing to expand connectivity, increase product access and skills across the continent and enable African-led innovation – with more to come.