China Eximbank provides a RMB 220 million concessional loan for the CDMA Transmission Project

Project narrative

On May 15, 2009, the Export-Import Bank of China and Togo Cellulaire signed a RMB 220 million (CFA 15 billion or $31.7 million) preferential loan agreement for the CDMA Transmission Project. The borrowing terms are unknown. The proceeds of the loan were to be used by the borrower to acquire, install and use telecommunication equipment, allowing Togo Telecom expand the coverage of its "Illico" telephone network. Using the Radio Local Loop, "Illico", a hybrid telephone that used a fixed wireless terminal and mobile line at the same time, was offered to customers at prices lower than those of GSM; the phone, when connected to a computer, provides Internet access to that computer opposed to customers a hybrid telephone that uses a fixed wireless terminal and mobile line at the same time at prices that are lower than those of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. was contracted to implement the project. According to China's Ministry of Commerce, the CDMA Transmission project entered construction in 2003 before the loan was committed. The project passed final acceptance in June 2012. Upon completion of the project, it was expected that Togo Telecom would transition from a wireless fixed network to a full mobile network and its core network capacity would increase from 200,000 to 500,000. It was also expected that the wireless capacity would increase from 150,000 to 300,000, and city coverage would increase from 21 to 45.