IFC weighs doubling Eastcastle Telecom loan to $60m for DRC expansion

Details: Manny Pham; Category: Operators; 01 May 2026; 314 views

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is considering doubling its initial loan to tower company Eastcastle Telecom to $60 million, backing the firm’s expansion in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The IFC said on April 27 it may reinstate its original $30 million commitment and add a further $30 million facility to support Eastcastle’s continued growth in the DRC.

The funding will be used for the acquisition and construction of built-to-suit towers and transmission infrastructure, which will be leased to mobile network operators. The DRC’s four major operators are Airtel, Vodacom, Orange and Africell.

Proceeds will go towards building out a portfolio of built-to-suit sites and transmission towers across the country, strengthening network capacity and coverage.

Eastcastle Infrastructure was established in 2020, initially focusing on Nigeria and the DRC, and has since expanded telecom tower and infrastructure projects across 12 African markets. The company was launched with backing from the IDC, which provided a $24 million investment.