Millicom Lao

completed

Millicom Lao Company Limited (MLL or the company) is a joint venture between Millicom International Cellular S.A. (78%) and the Ministry of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction (MCTPC) of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (22%). MLL was awarded a 20-year license in 2002 and launched services in April 2003. The company is the third largest provider of GSM mobile telecommunications services in Laos, with a subscriber base of approximately 30,000. The company’s immediate plan is to add an additional 30 new base stations in Lao PDR to its existing 37 by the Quarter 1, 2005. The additional base stations would provide Millicom Lao with nationwide coverage. Although a small operation, the company fits nicely into Millicom’s existing operations in Cambodia and Vietnam, and stands to benefit from the regional synergies available to the three operations. Total project costs over the period of the proposed loan is estimated at $9 million, with the majority of the equipment supplied by Huawei Technology of China.