Active Development AidData Chinese Aid

China Development Bank and China Eximbank pledge $68 million loan for the Digital TV Operation Project (Linked to Record ID#57618, 30706)

$68M USD

Funder	China Development Bank (CDB)\|Export-Import Bank of China (China Eximbank)
Recipient Organization	Star Media (Tanzania) Co., Ltd.
Country	Tanzania
Start Date	Jan 01, 2010
End Date	Dec 01, 2030
Duration	7,639 days
Number of Grantees	1
Roles	Recipient
Data Source	AidData Chinese Aid
Grant ID	`60247`

Grant Description

China Development Bank and China Eximbank pledge $68 million loan for the Digital TV Operation Project In December 2010, China Eximbank and China Development Bank reportedly signed a financing agreement, in which it agreed to lend $68 million to Star Media (Tanzania) Limited -- a special purpose vehicle and joint venture of Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (35% equity stake) and StarTimes (65% equity stake) -- for the Digital TV Operation Project.

However, the financing arrangement reportedly encountered problems when the Government of Tanzania refused to provide a sovereign guarantee for the loan. The Digital TV Operation Project aimed to transition Tanzania from analogue to digital television.

The switch began on December 31, 2012 and it was completed on April 30, 2015 when all analogue television transmitters were switched off. According to the StarTimes website, it brought digital TV to nine cities in Tanzania as of March 2013.

📋 Staff Comments

The Chinese project title is 坦桑尼亚数字电视运营项.
StarTime originally planned to invest $238 million in this project including $68 million from the Chinese banks, $34 million by selling 10,000 company shares, and another $136 million from its own profits.
This project appears to be related to a broader, Africa-wide project funded by the Chinese government to bring digital TV to 10,000 villages in Africa (captured via Record ID#57618).

📚 Sources & References

China’s satellite television project enriches the lives of African people
项目背景, http://www.parliament.go.tz/polis/uploads/documents/1462522947-HS-8-31-2012.pdf
TBC sasa kwa fukuta
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Star Time's $265m investment right
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ANNUAL GENERAL REPORT OF THE CONTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL
Jing Wang Loan applications and disbursements are still being received and processed as the projects continue to evolve. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are in place to ensure project continuity.