PFA performed a multi-disciplinary feasibility study on behalf of United Telecom Group (UTG), the major fixed-line telecom operator in the Republic of Georgia under a cost share arrangement with the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). The study assisted UTG to plan the completion of a national fiber-optic backbone network and the deployment of advanced services, in particular high-speed Internet access, in those areas where UTG has existing copper distribution infrastructure. The study also included a detailed Market Assessment on telecoms demand in Georgia, the first of its kind to be undertaken by any telecoms operator.

In 2012, on behalf of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation’s (now the DFC) Finance and Investment Funds group, PFA was an independent financial and technical expert for a $72 million loan to Wananchi Holdings Group, an integrated business and retail media and communications provider in six East African countries with primary operations in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.  PFA provided rapid, high-quality feedback to OPIC regarding the credit worthiness of the Borrower’s business plan and application, as well as an assessment of the nature, scope and impact of the Borrower’s ongoing operations in East Africa.

The loan was a first for the DFC and used to expand Wananchi’s pay TV, broadband Internet and voice offerings (“Triple Play” services) provisioned through a combination of terrestrial hybrid fiber-coax cable (“HFC”) and satellite direct-to-home (“DTH”) platforms.