Alpha Telecommunication Mali (Atel Mali) has inked a XOF4bn (US$6.6m) loan guarantee agreement for the construction of a new telecoms network with the African Guarantee and Economic Cooperation Fund.
According to Agence Ecofin, the guarantee accounts…
Alpha Telecommunication Mali (Atel Mali) has inked a XOF4bn (US$6.6m) loan guarantee agreement for the construction of a new telecoms network with the African Guarantee and Economic Cooperation Fund.
According to Agence Ecofin, the guarantee accounts for 40% of the loan that the operator secured from the West African Development Bank (BOAD).
Further to the network deployment, Atel will become Mali’s third mobile operator, having successfully bid for a license in February for €84m.
Atel will deploy the infrastructure throughout the country, with a particular focus on Bamako and regional capitals Sikasso, Ségou, Koulikoro and Kayes.
The operator is a joint venture between Monaco Telecom and Planor Afrique. The latter is controlled by businessman Appolinaire Compaore, who runs cellco Telecel Faso in his native Burkina Faso.
Atel Mali’s competitors include Orange and Sotelma Malitel, a JV between Maroc Telecom and Mali government.
