Announcement of 5.2 Million Dollars IDA Credit for Telecommunications in Niger on June 7, 1976

•World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. • Telephone: (202) 393-6360 IDA NEWS RELEASE NO. 76/25 JUNE 7, 1976 $5.2 MILLION IDA CREDIT FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN NIGER The International Development Association, an affi ltate of the World Bank, has approved a $5.2 million development credit to help finance a telecommun:Cations project in Niger. The project, with an estimated total cost of $6.5 million, consists of the installation of 3,800 lines of automatic switchinq equipment with cable and subscriber distribution networks; improvement of long-distance services by providing trunk switching equipment, three VHF links and one HF radio link, overhead line and carrier equioment; • civil works; miscellaneous equipment, vehicles and tools. The rroject also includes engineering and financial consultant services. The project is an integral part of the four-year development program of the Office des Postes et T~l~communications du Miger (OPTM), which aims at substantially improving the quality of the country's telecommunications services. The present lack of reliable, good quality tele= communfcatfons facflftf~ fn Niger, especfally fn the case of long-dfstanee network, is causing acute communications problems. The improvement of telecommunications is recognized by the Government of i·liqer as a key element in the development process and in the better integration of the country. The OPTN's program lays stress on the improvement of the long- distance services and is designed to improve the quality of service in the economically more important areas of Niger. The IDA credit wi 11 be for a term of 50 years, includinq 10 years of grace. It wi 11 be interest-free but wi 11 carry a service charqe of 3/4 of 1% to cover IOA)s administrative costs . • NOTE: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents. Form No. 1121 (9-75) PROJECT: T E CHNI CAL Telecommunications DATA • COUNTRY: Niger TOTAL COST: $6. 5 mi 11 ion I DA FINANCING: $5.2 million, standard IDA terms OTHER FINANCING: Office des Post es et Tel ecommun f cat 1ons du "'Ji qe r (nPTN) IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATIOM: Office des Postes et Telecommunications du Niqer (OPTN) .~~ i arney Repub 1 i que du ~H ~er Cable address: OFIPOSTEL NIAMEY TELEX: 5209 NI PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project consists of the installation of 3,800 1 i r.es of automatic switching equ i pn,ent with cab 1e • and subscriber distribution networks; improvement of long-distance services by providing trunk switching equipment; three VHF links and one HF radio iink. overhead line and carrier equfpment: civi 1 works: rniscell;,neous eouinment. vehicles and tools; and engineering and financial consultant services. PROCUREMENT: The items financed by iDAwill he procured through international competitive bidding exceot for Sl.5 million of switching equipment for extensions and signalling conversion to existing exchanges which will be purchased from existing suppliers; and smal 1 groups of miscellaneous equ(pment, tools and vehicles not exceeding $20,000 per group and $150,000 in total which will be procured after local competltion in accordance with the Government's tendering procedures. CONSULTANTS: OPTN wi 11 require 18 man-months of consu 1tancy services for staffing, planninq, accounting, bi 11ing collection and tariff assistance and 30 man-months of consultancy services for engineering services. ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 1980 • -0-