Chris Wood has been named in the prestigious 2020 Power 100 list of the world’s 100 most influential people in the wholesale carrier community.
In the recently-released global listing, Chris is commended for growing WIOCC from an unknown start-up to the organisation now responsible for building Africa’s hyperscale network infrastructure.
Investing to meet future demand
Through his visionary leadership, guiding the strategic investments the organisation makes in its network and people, he ensures that the company is able to meet the ever-growing demands of businesses and end-users in Africa by delivering the reliable, future-proof connectivity required by its OTT, content provider, carrier, telco and ISP clients.
WIOCC’s unique network, underpinned by its own carrier-grade international infrastructure delivers reliable and scalable connectivity solutions that are now typically measured in multiples of 100Gbps. To monitor and maintain this dynamically-changing network, its Nairobi-based Network Operations Centre (NOC) has doubled in size in the last three years and a back-up NOC has been set up in South Africa.
Since 2015, the number of people employed by WIOCC has grown by more than 100%, enabling it to continue delivering outstanding connectivity to clients.
Extending hyperscale infrastructure across South Africa and Nigeria
To support the current needs and anticipated requirements of WIOCC’s clients, the company has established a particularly strong presence in Africa’s three key bridgehead markets – Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria – establishing local operating companies, recruiting local staff and investing in high-capacity, resilient network infrastructure. In total, WIOCC offers services across almost 30 African countries.
Chris has driven Africa’s carriers’ carrier to be the leading player in the deployment of carrier-scale, future-proofed, hyperscale network infrastructure into, out of and within Africa. Announcements of further strategic investments are expected over the coming months.
