PROJECT

Projects

Summary of Collaboration or Co-Development Project

Project Number

48050

Date SCCP Disclosed

Sep 25, 2023

Country

Bangladesh

Region

South Asia

Last Updated Date

Sep 29, 2023

Industry

other

Sector

other

Department

CN4UA - Regional Industry - INF Asia & Pac/INR Asia Upstream & Advisory

Project Description

International Finance Corporation (“IFC”) entered into a collaboration agreement with Bahon Limited, one of three private operators in Bangladesh licensed to provide nationwide wholesale broadband services. This partnership aims to support the company with nationwide fiber rollout, particularly in cities outside Dhaka with smaller populations and underdeveloped fiber footprint, to support mobile network operators in tower fiberization efforts and 5G rollout. With current tower fiberization and home broadband penetration rates well below regional peers, IFC believes that the company has an important role to play in supporting the national digital connectivity agenda in Bangladesh. IFC will work with the company to develop a bankable business plan and to understand applicable E&S considerations, with the overall objective to support the company to expand its rollout of nationwide fiber.

E & S Information

 As part of its Due Diligence, and as mandated by IFC's Sustainability Policy, IFC will screen this project to assess consistency with IFC's Performance Standards. The IFC team will assist the client, as the final decision maker, in gaining a good understanding of IFC's Performance Standards and will provide recommendations for appropriate mitigation measures, wherever warranted.