Tizeti, a West African internet service provider backed by YCombinator, is significantly expanding its fiber optic network. In just three months, it has installed over 150,000 meters of fiber in key cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Accra. This rapid expansion follows the launch of its new “FREEFIBER.AFRICA” subscription service, which offers a US IP address, phone number, debit card, and mailing address for $10/month.
“Following our launch on 12/12/24, our expansion has gained significant momentum,” founder and CEO of Tizeti, Kendall Ananyi, said in a LinkedIn announcement.
“Our focus has been outside of gated communities, but in areas where we have unlimited internet service; we have achieved a minimum of 80% penetration in all communities.”
Founded 13 years ago with a mission to deliver affordable internet in West Africa (Lagos and Ghana), Tizeti plans to expand into Cote d’Ivoire and Francophone West Africa. The company, backed by 4DX and Ventures Platform, has raised $7.4 million in funding.
Tizeti leverages undersea cables and solar-powered towers from providers like MainOne and solar-powered towers to offer unlimited, uncapped internet. In 2023, they received debt financing from Chapel Hill Denham’s Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund to expand their broadband network across 15 Nigerian states.
This growth has driven the development of “FREEFIBER.AFRICA,” which Tizeti claims offers speeds surpassing 5G and satellite internet.
The company reports serving 3 million subscribers in Nigeria, including residential, business, and hotspot users, through its network of solar-powered base stations in five states. They handle over 180 terabytes of data daily, exceeding 35,219 terabytes by December 2023. Tizeti also has long term ambitions for an Initial Public Offering (IPO).
