China Eximbank provides $14.98 million loan for Metropolitan Internet Network Project (Linked to Project ID#36020)

On December 20, 2013, China Eximbank and the Government of Burundi signed a $14.98 million loan agreement for the Metropolitan Internet Network Project. The loan carries the following terms: a 28-year maturity, an 8-year grace period, and a 1% interest rate. The Burundian parliament ratified the loan agreement on August 21, 2014. The purpose of the project was to build a 220 km fiber-optic network in the capital city of Bujumbura. The project was implemented by Huawei Technologies. Construction began on October 28, 2014. The project was originally expected to be completed by the end of 2015. However, it was ultimately completed and handed over to Office national des télécommunications du Burundi (ONATEL) — the country’s state-owned telecommunications operator — on December 16, 2016.

Additional details

1. The construction of the fiber-optic network enabled the Chinese electronic provider StarTimes to contract TV services (see Project ID#36020). 2. The Chinese project title is 优惠贷款的布琼布拉城域网项目 or 城域网项目. The French project title is le projet de construction du réseau métropolitain d’internet.

Number of official sources

15

Number of total sources

19