The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Tunisie Telecom have announced a landmark partnership to modernise Tunisia’s digital infrastructure and accelerate the operator’s transformation.
The EBRD will provide a development-linked loan of up to €190 million, to be disbursed in four tranches, beginning with a committed €50 million. The funding will support a multi-year investment programme, including the upgrade of Tunisie Telecom’s mobile network from 4G to 5G, expansion of its fibre network, and the connection of up to 200,000 households to fibre-to-the-home. It will also finance the modernisation of the operator’s backbone and core network, alongside targeted investments in energy efficiency and energy production.
A key element of the programme is Tunisie Telecom’s connection to the Medusa submarine cable, a Mediterranean subsea network spanning more than 8,000 kilometres and linking nearly 13 countries across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. The Medusa project is supported by the European Union and led by infrastructure operator AFR-IX.
The loan is complemented by an €11 million EU grant under the Neighbourhood Investment Platform. This includes an investment grant to support core network and cybersecurity upgrades, as well as a technical assistance grant to deliver a comprehensive transformation programme for the national operator.
According to the EBRD, the transformation programme will focus on skills development, sustainability, energy efficiency, digitalisation, cybersecurity, and strategic reform. The objective is to enhance Tunisie Telecom’s efficiency, resilience, and competitiveness in a rapidly evolving telecom landscape.
Notably, this marks the first time since 2012 that the EBRD has provided financing to Tunisia’s public sector without a sovereign guarantee. The loan is structured as a development-linked instrument, with interest rates tied to the achievement of key milestones in sustainability and state-owned enterprise reform.
Through this investment, the EBRD aims to strengthen Tunisia’s digital backbone, expand high-speed connectivity, and support the long-term modernisation of the country’s national telecom operator.
