Telecom Egypt signed an agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) - the lending arm of the European Union - to secure a medium-term loan of €150 million to expand Telecom Egypt’s 4G broadband network.
The new developmental facility will be used to support Telecom Egypt in improving its mobile network coverage by deploying around 2,000 new mobile sites and installing additional capacity layers to its existing portfolio of mobile towers. The partnership, currently the EIB’s largest mobile network loan in Africa, will strengthen the network across Egypt, including less densely populated areas & enhance competition and affordability of services.
Adel Hamed, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We are very pleased to secure this new credit line with EIB after extensive deliberations, including the presentation of our functional plan to improve our mobile network’s scale, an objective that comes in line with the bank’s priorities for developmental projects. Telecom Egypt will capitalize on its multiple financial resources, newly awarded spectrum and rich portfolio of valuable products, among other factors, to continue serving its growing customer base and strengthen its competitive position in the Egyptian telecom market.”
Flavia Palanza, Director, EU Neighborhood Countries, European Investment Bank, said: "This project will help accelerate large scale investment in mobile networks and ensure affordable access to digital services in Egypt. The EIB identifies the digital transformation as a catalyzer for innovation, employment and sustainable economic growth. We are pleased to partner with Telecom Egypt, a dynamic group engaged in its ambitious network expansion program, to offer a modern and broader access to connectivity throughout Egypt."
Tobias Krause, Deputy Head of Delegation, EU Delegation to Egypt said: “Digital Transformation is a key pillar of this ambitious new phase of joint cooperation with Egypt. The EU aims to support Egyptian government efforts to secure resilient and affordable access to universal connectivity to the benefits of Egyptian citizens across the whole country. This project shows the commitment of our partners in the EIB, the EU’s lending hand, to support crucial inclusive digital infrastructure planning in Egypt. We will continue to work hand in hand with our Member States and European Financial Institutions as Team Europe to support Egypt’s human centric digital transition and to foster a sustainable, connected and inclusive economy and society.”
Background information
About EIB
The European Investment Bank is the lending arm of the European Union and supports projects that promote the EU’s priorities and objectives. It is the world’s biggest multilateral financial institution and one of the largest providers of climate finance.
Over the last five years, the EIB’s support for digitalisation across Africa has funded more than €2.5 billion of transformational investments, fostering knowledge and innovation and creating benefits such as the growth of digital industries and financial inclusion. Particularly in the telecom infrastructure, in 2016 EIB already provided in the Mediterranean Region EUR 100 million for the 4G network development in Tunisia with Tunisie Telecom. In the rest of Africa, the Bank has recently this year supported the mobile network expansion in Nigeria with EUR 100 million finance, and in 2018 in Kenya with EUR 35 million investment.
EIB Global is the EIB Group’s new specialised arm dedicated to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance. EIB Global is designed to foster strong, focused partnership within Team Europe, alongside fellow development finance institutions, and civil society. EIB Global brings the Group closer to local people, companies and institutions through our offices across the world.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/eib-global/
About Telecom Egypt
Telecom Egypt is the first integrated telecom operator in Egypt providing all telecom services to its customers, including fixed and mobile voice and data services. Telecom Egypt has a long history, over 160 years, of serving Egyptian customers and leading the Egyptian telecom market in the most advanced technology and reliable infrastructure solutions, as well as the widest network of submarine cables. In addition to its mobile operation "WE", the company owns 45% of Vodafone Egypt. Telecom Egypt’s shares and GDRs (Ticker: ETEL.CA; TEEG.LN) are traded on The Egyptian Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. Please refer to Telecom Egypt’s full financial disclosure on ir.te.eg
