Huawei and SOTELMA to cooperate on wireless network build

Mali’s incumbent telecoms operator Société des Télécommunications du Mali (SOTELMA) has signed a partnership agreement with China’s Huawei Technologies as part of a concerted effort to strengthen political and economic ties between their respective countries. Huawei will work with SOTELMA to develop a wireless network, by providing and deploying equipment, and helping the telco to secure financing for the project, some of which could come via concessional loans from the Chinese government. The agreement was signed over the weekend whilst Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing visited the African country to boost ties.