Algeria – Ooredoo, the Qatari telecommunications giant, is investing more than $1 billion to deploy AI-ready data centres, next-generation 5G networks, and fintech platforms to accelerate Africa’s gaming and igaming ecosystem.
At the centre of this strategy is Syntys, Ooredoo’s new data centre subsidiary, backed by $1bn in investment and QAR2bn ($549m) in financing from Qatari banks. With plans to scale up to 120 MW of AI-ready capacity, Syntys will operate hyperscale facilities capable of supporting high-speed cloud gaming, live dealer streams, and AI-powered betting models.
Ooredoo’s footprint spans Algeria, Tunisia, and wider African markets, alongside operations in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, giving the company the scale to deliver seamless gaming and fintech services across continents. According to TechAfrica News, Ooredoo is accelerating its shift into a “multi-asset digital leader” by expanding into AI, subsea connectivity, data centres, and financial technology.
CEO Aziz Fakhroo underscored the Group’s five strategic pillars—telecom operations, towers, data centres, subsea cables, and fintech—highlighting the company’s mission to build a future-proof digital infrastructure.
Connectivity is a critical enabler. Ooredoo’s Fibre in the Gulf (FIG) subsea cable project, with a capacity of 720 Tbps, strengthens links between Africa, Asia, and Europe, while new 5G Standalone and 5G-Advanced networks with edge computing and network slicing are being rolled out to power low-latency gaming, real-time betting, and instant digital payments.
Fintech is the third growth pillar. Through Ooredoo Financial Technology International (OFTI), the company is expanding its digital wallet Walletii beyond Qatar, Oman, and the Maldives into Tunisia and other African markets. This aims to address one of igaming’s biggest challenges: reliable, instant payments.
Ooredoo’s financial strength underpins these initiatives. In Q1 2025, the Group reported QAR5.8bn ($1.59bn) in revenue, QAR960m ($263m) in net profit (a 5% increase year-on-year), and a 41% surge in capital expenditure to QAR538m ($147m), reflecting its long-term commitment to scaling digital infrastructure across Africa and beyond.
