Bpifrance finances Isocel fiber-optic extension in Benin
Benin’s internet service provider Isocel has received a loan of €6 million from Bpifrance to expand its network.
Isocel will extend its fiber-optic network over 500km in the greater Cotonou area, where the company currently has only a 90km network. Isocel has opted for the construction of an aerial infrastructure fixed on power pole, which allows it to halve the cost and installation time compared to a buried optical fiber. Work will begin next January and should be completed in the second half of 2021.
To obtain financing from Bpifrance, Isocel favoured French suppliers. The optical fiber will be acquired from the company Acome, whose plant is in Normandy, and supplied via the exporter Geka Telecom. Sagemcom will then install the broadband telecom infrastructure, while Taho has been awarded the project management contract.
