China Eximbank provides $38 million for Provincial Fixed-line Telecommunications Expansion and Modernization Project

In 2005, China Eximbank provided a $38 million loan to the Government of Angola for the Provincial Fixed-line Telecommunications Expansion and Modernization Project (See: 'Africa’s ICT Infrastructure Building on the Mobile Revolution,' p. 240). The proceeds of the loan were to be used to finance 100% of a commercial contract signed on 8 July 2005 between ZTE Corporation and Angola's Mundo Startel (See: '中兴通讯签订安哥拉固定电话网络合同').This project involved installation of new copper and wireless networks and 3,276 kilometers of fiber optic cable and 6,000 telephone lines in the following provinces: Malanje, Zaire, Bie, Moxico, Cuando Cubango, Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul. Some 1,392 VSAT lines were also to be installed, along with 761 ADSL links and 13,000 CDMA fixed lines. The project encountered multiple problems and delays, including minefields at work sites, heavy rainfall, and slow customs clearance of Chinese equipment and heavy rainfall in areas with difficult accesses. It was eventually completed but its precise implementation start and end dates are unknown.

Additional details

This loan is not included in the database of Chinese loan commitments that SAIS-CARI released in July 2020.

Number of official sources

3

Number of unofficial sources

4