Cameroon’s Africa Mobile Networks (AMN) is seeking a EUR 30 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) for a EUR 63 project to the purchase and installation of mobile telecom networks to extend the reach of telecommunication services to rural communities of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Cameroon currently not served by any operator.
The project under appraisal will be assessed which components of investment costs will be eligible for EIB direct funding. The project is due to be implemented from 2016 to 2018. Services will operate using the frequency bands awarded to established operators under revenue share agreements.
By the end of 2018 the two national networks are planned to provide coverage to over 3.6 m people based on 650 sites. AMN's project will extend mobile telecommunication network population coverage from 75 to 80 percent in the DRC and from 85 to 95 percent in Cameroon. It includes investment in the core, access, transmission components and energy equipment.
The project aims to provide first-time access to mobile telecommunications (voice and data) for rural populations in Cameroon and DRC. It will also be assessed whether the promoter and its contractors will comply with local national legislation and international best practice on environmental and social issues.
The project's operation is considered as belonging to the private sector. The EIB will require the promoter to ensure that implementation of the project will be done in accordance with the EIB's Guide to Procurement. The appraisal will study which components of investment costs will be eligible for EIB direct funding.
Source: http://www.telecompaper.com/news/africa-mobile-networks-seeks-eur-30-mln-eib-loan--1131365