The regional telecommunication firm Africell is being granted a loan of $100 million from the United States to expand access to telecommunications in Africa. The project reportedly has a far-reaching developmental impact particularly in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, by enhancing the access and quality of mobile telephone and Internet services.Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the US government’s development finance institution will be granting the loan.
Africell was established in 2001. Its operations cover the Gambia and Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda with a subscriber base of 12 million. The loan will be utilized to improve operational efficiency in the existing markets and later invest the proceeds to enter new markets.
