When Martin Cox joined the Paratus Group in 2021, his principal mandate was to champion the Group’s ambitious expansion across Africa. His leadership has been instrumental in advancing the organisation’s broader strategic goals, including the successful rollout of Paratus 500 – a major milestone marking the Group’s achievement in securing licences and operations that now reach 500 million people in sub-equatorial Africa. As Chief Commercial Officer, Martin’s extensive experience and proven track record continue to drive the Paratus Group’s expansion across the continent.
In the run-up to the Paratus 500 announcement, Martin applied his strategic expertise to shape and negotiate agreements that have strengthened the Group’s long-term position and mission in Africa. Over the past two years, this expansion journey has involved establishing new companies, securing operating licences and launching Paratus operations in seven additional African markets. Together with the Paratus team and the Group’s in-country partners, this expansion has culminated in a licensed network footprint reaching 500 million people.
A key focus of the Paratus Group’s growth plan has been the addition of East Africa, and Martin has spearheaded efforts to make this a reality. “I’m very proud to have led the Paratus move into East Africa,” he says. “Together with our in-country partners, Paratus now offers unrivalled cross-border links as well as fibre and satellite networks. This makes us a compelling partner for any intercontinental, national or global business that requires robust, secure and fast connectivity across Southern and Central Africa. It’s exciting because, as we carve out new territories, we are opening opportunities for African businesses to connect with the world and to become digitally transformed.”
Martin believes the Paratus Group’s growth strategy in sub-equatorial Africa is unique on the continent. “Paratus has not only decided to grow organically, but we have also partnered with local ISPs that provide us with experienced local teams on the ground to support our customers. This means we can service our clients with a seamless, contiguous network while maintaining a strong local presence in each market and focusing on delivering quality service. Additionally, the Paratus Group has four data centres in Southern Africa and was the landing partner for the Google Equiano subsea cable in Namibia.”
Martin also leads the Group’s partnerships in the Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services market. In 2023, Paratus became one of the first authorised resellers for Starlink in Africa, enhancing the Group’s ability to service customers regardless of how remote their location may be.
Next on Martin’s agenda is to consolidate the expansion achieved so far and focus on organic growth within each new territory. “Our next main goal, having announced Paratus 500, is to drive customer and revenue growth in our markets, make Paratus a significant local player in each new territory, and leverage the synergies of the coverage we’ve created.”
Background on Martin Cox
Martin’s career in international telecommunications began in the mid-1990s when he worked with a private equity development company that invested in telecom operators in emerging markets. These investments included Axtel in Mexico in 1997, which is now a US$650 million-revenue operator, Celtel—the pan-African mobile operator—in 1998, and Neotel in South Africa in 2003. Martin was one of Neotel’s founding shareholders and executives, initially responsible for raising finance before taking over strategy and sales. Under his leadership, Neotel’s revenue grew to R4 billion before its acquisition by Liquid Telecommunications. More recently, Martin was responsible for Strategy, Commercial and M&A at Internet Solutions, part of the Dimension Data Group.
UK-born and educated, Martin Cox is a qualified lawyer and MBA graduate. He is married to a South African, has three daughters and lives in Johannesburg.
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About Paratus
Paratus is committed to raising the bar for quality connectivity in Africa. With a forward-looking approach, the Group continues to invest in infrastructure and position itself as a leading provider of integrated network services across the continent. Among its many achievements, Paratus has invested in and launched the East-to-West Africa fibre route, the Express Route from Johannesburg to the rest of the world, and announced Paratus 500, signalling that the telco now holds licences to reach half a billion people in sub-Equatorial Africa.
The Paratus Group operates in 16 African countries and employs over 1,000 staff and contractors across the organisation. This growing footprint connects African businesses across the continent and delivers end-to-end service excellence. The Group’s reach also extends beyond Africa, with international points of presence in Europe, the UK and the USA.
Born and bred in Africa, Paratus is thinking big as it expands its footprint to deliver the continent’s quality network. The Group aims to provide real value and meaningful services to communities across Africa, contributing positively to both social and environmental transformation.
Media contact:
Gail Makin gail@wiredcommunications.co.za +27 82 969 0291
