Intelvision and Vodafone Partner on 2Africa Seychelles Branch, Funded by IFC

Intelvision Limited (Intelvision) has signed a 15-year partnership agreement with Vodafone, to facilitate connectivity between Seychelles and the 2Africa subsea cable system. International Finance Corporation (IFC) provided US$20million financing supports for the project.

Founded by third-generation Seychellois entrepreneur and developer Mukesh Valabhji in 2004, Intelvision Limited started out by providing cable TV services on the island of Mahe. In 2006, the company expanded its offering by including Broadband internet and VOIP services in their service range. They continued to improve their services over the years and ultimately launched their own fibre optic network (GPON). Currently, Intelvision dominates the local telecom market by offering broadband internet connection services and cable television to almost 65% of the residents and 5% of the businesses in Seychelles. Intelvision is the largest telecom operator in Seychelles.

The 2Africa Seychelles Branch will span about 2000 kilometers connecting Seychelles to the 2Africa cable system. Intelvision rebrands the branch as Intelvision Submarine Cable System (ISCS).

IFC funded the 2Africa Seychelles Branch (or the ISCS project) through a debt facility of up to US20 million comprised of an A loan of up to US$10 million complemented by the Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Program (MCPP) Infra (Allianz) loan of US$10 million or a B loan. The terrestrial backhaul connections are separate from but associated with the ISCS project and are to be developed by Intelvision.

Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), working under an existing contract with Apollo Submarine Cable System Limited, a subsidiary of Vodafone, will design, install and commission the ISCS. Vodafone is an initial member the 2Africa Cable consortium, comprising China Mobile International, Djibouti Telecom, Facebook (Mata), MTN GlobalConnect, Orange, Saudi Telecom Company (stc), Telecom Egypt, Vodafone and WIOCC.

Through the 15-year partnership agreement with Vodafone, Intelvision is expected to acquire over 600Gbps of international bandwidth on the 2Africa cable system, connecting Seychelles to Asia, Europe and other Afircan countries. It will represent a significant step-up with respect to connectivity speeds for Intelvision's households and business customers. The cable will also increase the speed and capacity of Intelvision's existing Fibre Optic & Hybrid Fibre Coaxial Networks.

Intelvision is now relying on the Seychelles East Africa System (SEAS) submarine cable for its international connectivity.

The SEAS cable system connects Seychelles and Tanzania, is the first international submarine cable connecting Seychelles. SEAS is owned and operated by the Seychelles Cable Systems Company Ltd (SCS), an SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) comprising the Seychelles Government, Cable & Wireless (Seychelles) and Airtel (Seychelles), established in 2008 for the construction and operation of the Seychelles East Africa System (SEAS). 

In addition to the SEAS，SCS invested about US$20million to land the PEACE cable in Seychelles in this March, establishing the second international subsea cable connectiviity to Seychelles.

SEAS, PEACE and 2Africa will form diverse international connections between Seychelles and the rest of the world.