Completed Development AidData Chinese Aid

China Eximbank provides preferential loan for $17 million contract supporting Phase 1 of the Togo Mobile Network Expansion Project (Linked to Record ID#64092)

$17M USD

Funder	Export-Import Bank of China (China Eximbank)
Recipient Organization	Togocom
Country	Togo
Start Date	Jan 01, 2004
End Date	Nov 20, 2029
Duration	9,455 days
Number of Grantees	1
Roles	Recipient
Data Source	AidData Chinese Aid
Grant ID	`64098`

Grant Description

China Eximbank provides preferential loan for $17 million contract supporting Phase 1 of the Togo Mobile Network Expansion Project In 2004, the Export-Import Bank of China and the Government of Togo signed a preferential loan agreement for Phase 1 of the Togo Mobile Network Expansion Project.

The proceeds of the loan were used to finance a EUR 13 million ($17 million) commercial contract between Togo Cellulaire and Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell Co, Ltd.

Under the terms of the commercial contract, Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell Co, Ltd. agreed to supply Togo Cellulaire with its GSM/GPRS/EDGE solution, which included base transceiver stations, base station controllers, mobile services switching centers, and microwave transmission equipment.

The purpose of the project was to increase Togo Cellulaire's network capacity and expand its network coverage to remote parts of Togo, as well as allow Togo Cellulaire to offer Internet access and personal ring back tone services to its customers. Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell Co, Ltd. was the contractor responsible for implementation.

The project was completed in 2006. It reportedly added an additional 100,000 connections to Togo Cellulaire's network capacity.

📋 Staff Comments

This project is also known as Phase 1 of the Telecom Network Expansion Project or the GSM/GPRS Expansion Project. The Chinese project title is 多哥移动一期扩容项目.
For the time being, AidData has identified the Government of Togo as the borrower. However, there are some indications that Togo Cellulaire (Togocel), which was wholly owned by the Government of Togo until 2019 and is now co-owned by Axian Group & Emerging Capital (51% equity stake) and the Government of Togo (49% equity stake), may have been the primary borrower or secondary borrower (through an on-lending arrangement with the Government of Togo). This issue merits further investigation.
Sources are inconsistent regarding the commitment year; some indicate 2005, while others point to 2004. This issue warrants further investigation.
The face value of this loan is not reported by any of the underlying sources. AidData estimates that the face value by taking 100% of the value of the underlying commercial contract, as this project was likely financed with a Government Concessional Loan (GCL) from China Eximbank.
Togo Cellulaire (also known as Togocel or Togo Mobile) was a wholly state-owned company and subsidiary of Togo Telecom. At the time of the project, its network covered 90% of the country and had a portfolio of 300,000 subscribers.
China Eximbank also financed Phase 2 of the Togo Mobile Network Expansion Project in 2004 (as captured via Project ID#64092).

📚 Sources & References

Exim Bank appuie Togocel
上海贝尔实施的多哥移动二期扩容项目举行竣工仪式
中国上海贝尔公司和多哥移动公司二期项目竣工
On Dec. 14th, 2004
Mr. Zhao Wenzhang
Vice President of China Eximbank, met with Mr. Gnassingbe
Telecom Minister of the Republic of Togo. The two sides talked over Togo GSM/GPRS Expansion Project.
多哥电信行业概况
TOGO CELLULAIRE TO INVEST 13M EUROS IN GPRS/EDGE NETWORK
Building Bridges China’s Growing Role as Infrastructure Financier for Sub-Saharan Africa
Africa’s ICT Infrastructure Building on the Mobile Revolution 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.

All Grantees

Togocom

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