At a Glance
- IFC injects $92.2 million to expand Orange Mali’s 4G and fiber network.
- Funding targets rural coverage, digital finance growth, and long-term local-currency stability.
- Deal marks first project under IFC–Orange regional digital infrastructure partnership.
Orange Mali, the leading telecommunications provider in Mali, has secured $92.2 million in new financing from the International Finance Corporation to expand its network and improve access to affordable, reliable internet across Mali.
The package supports a broader effort to bring high-quality broadband to underserved communities at a time when digital access is becoming essential for education, banking, commerce and public services.
The IFC financing will help Orange Mali strengthen its 4G network, extend fiber-optic links, and scale digital financial services as demand for mobile money continues to climb in West Africa.
Expanding 4G and fiber in hard-to-reach areas
The funding will support the installation of 300 additional 4G towers and extend the company’s national fiber backbone. Orange Mali expects the upgrades to reach roughly 300,000 households and small businesses.
Nearly half of the new sites will be built in rural communities, where slow connectivity and limited service options have long held back economic activity.
The financing package includes €50 million ($57.6 million) from IFC’s own account, along with up to €30 million ($34.6 million) arranged through the West African Development Bank.
The deal is supported by the World Bank’s IDA Private Sector Window, which offers long-term local-currency financing in markets where such funding is often difficult to obtain.
The structure helps telecom operators manage currency risk while continuing to make large, long-term network investments.
A regional push for inclusive digital growth
This transaction is the first under a new partnership announced by IFC and Orange Middle East and Africa at the Africa CEO Forum in 2025.
The alliance aims to advance large digital infrastructure projects across eight countries in West and Central Africa, improving affordability and widening access to mobile financial tools.
Structured as a Social Loan, the deal prioritizes investments for communities most at risk of being left behind.
Orange Mali has also committed to increasing women’s participation in its digital training programs to 70% by 2032, a move intended to expand job opportunities in one of Africa’s fastest-growing digital markets.
Aboubakar Sadikhe Diop, CEO of Orange Mali, said the partnership with IFC “strengthens our commitment to widening access to essential digital services.
With IFC’s backing, we can reach more communities and ensure that more Malians have the tools to engage fully in the digital economy.”
Supporting Mali’s digital future
Fatoumata Sissoko-Sy, IFC’s Regional Industry Manager for Infrastructure in West Africa, said expanding access to reliable internet is central to Mali’s development goals. “This partnership will help close the digital gap, support job creation, and bring more women into the digital economy,” she said.
Daouda Berte, BOAD’s Head of Infrastructure and Digital Economy, said the investment reflects the bank’s push to deepen regional integration under its Djoliba Strategic Plan.
IFC’s broader strategy in Mali includes support for SME finance, agribusiness modernization, and clean energy adoption. Orange Mali, majority-owned by Sonatel, serves more than 12 million customers and remains the country’s top provider of mobile, fixed-line and internet services.
