Ecuador: supporting PTIE to improve access to digital technology

Phoenix Tower International (PTI) Group was set up in 2013 and is a leading independent telecoms infrastructure company with over 8,000 telecom towers in its portfolio, mainly in Latin America and the Caribbean. PTI’s main investors are the Blackstone and John Hancock funds and Phoenix Tower International Ecuador (PTIE) is the subsidiary of PTI Group in Ecuador.

The financing for PTIE, for a total amount of USD 117m, has been syndicated by IDB Invest (a multilateral development bank and member of the Inter-American Development Bank Group  – IDB), which invited PROPARCO to participate via a USD 25m loan. The financing allocated will refinance the acquisition of 1,408 telecom towers owned by Otecel, as well as the financing of a CAPEX  plan which will allow PTIE to continue to develop its asset portfolio in the country (new towers, antenna systems distributed…).

This project should provide new or improved access to a mobile/4G service for 1,475,000 people in Ecuador by 2025. It will thereby contribute to bridging the digital divide in the country by allowing operators to increase and improve their mobile coverage through the model of shared infrastructure during the current pandemic where connectivity has more than ever been essential in maintaining school, governmental and economic activities. 

This project will thereby contribute to the achievement of SDG 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure).