wiredinUSA August 2011

INDEX

India has signed a $280m deal with The Democratic Republic of Congo for the construction of a 65MW hydroelectric plant in the Kasai Occidental province of Congo. Construction of the plant is slated to begin this November and is expected to take four years to complete. Congolese finance minister Matata Ponyo Mapon said that, under the terms of the agreement, India will contribute $168m to the construction, while Congo will contribute the remaining $112m. Congo energy minister Gilbert Tshiongo said that the construction of the plant is a part of the government’s plan to address the power shortages in the country and to overhaul the electric infrastructure of the country. Reuters reports that Congo has signed a similar deal worth $367m with China for the construction of another hydroelectric plant. India signs agreement with Congo for a 65MW hydroelectric plant

Picture : Alessandro Paiva

US$107m Saudi fiber-optic contract

ASIA & AFRICA NEWS

A $107m contract to install fiber-optic networks in Saudi Arabia has been awarded to four international firms. The aim of the Bayanat Al Oula Company, a subsidiary of Ittehad-Ittesalat (Mobily), is to strengthen the ‘smart’ services the company intends to provide its subscribers, and to keep in line with the changes expected to occur in communication services over the short- and medium-term. The initial phase of the project will see the installation of fiber-optic networks in four main cities, namely Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Al Khobar. The overall length of the networks in these four cities will be approximately 4,000km and will serve over 70,000 households. MD and CEO of Mobily, Eng. Khalid Al Kaf, said the communication sector is composed of a number of sectors that are experiencing accelerated development, as well as huge growth in the number of users, both individuals and businesses.

ASIA / AFRICA NEWS

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wiredInUSA - August

wiredInUSA - August

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