Telefonica Celular de Bolivia S.A.

completed

Summary Of Project Information (SPI)Project NameBolivia-Telefonica Celular de Bolivia S.A. (Telecel)RegionLatin AmericaSectorProject No007522Projected Board DateJune 10, 1996Company NameTelecel Bolivia S.A.Technical Partner and/or Major Shareholders Millicom International Cellular S.A., headquartered in Luxembourg and Mr. Fernando Campero, a Bolivian national.Project Cost Including proposed IFC investment Estimated project cost is approximately US$64 million. IFC would arrange US$36.83 million in financing of which US$0.23 million in equity, US$1.9 million of quasi-equity and a US$13 million senior loan would be for IFC’s own account; and US$2.7 million in quasi-equity and a US$19 million senior loan would be for the account of participant banks.Location of project and Description of site Departments of La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz.Description of Company and Purpose of Project Telecel was awarded a cellular concession in 1990 after a competitive bid. It is currently the only cellular operator in Bolivia and has about 8,500 subscribers. It has requested IFC financing to help expand capacity of its network for 57,000 subscribers by 1998 in response to higher than anticipated demand and expected competition from ENTEL, the domestic and international long distance carrier which also has the right to provide mobile cellular service nationwide. The project cost includes refinancing of about US$6.5 million of short-term debt.Environmental Category and Issues This is an Environmental Review Category B Project. Key issues associated with this project include right of way alignment, microwave transmission, radio towers, site selection, solid waste disposal, fire safety and employee training and safety.The is May 3, 1996 from the Public Information Center.Date SPI sent to PIC April 19, 1996For Additional Information contact: Corporate Relations Unit -telephone: (202) 473-7711facsimile: (202) 676-0365Environmental documents for this project are available at http://www.ifc.org and from the World Bank InfoShop (http://www.worldbank.org/html/pic/aboutinfo.html).