Maputo, Mozambique, 31 July – Mozambican state telecom company, Telecomunicações de Moçambique (TDM) is negotiation the concession of US$25 million in funding from China for its programme of expanding its network to rural areas, according to a report in Mozambican newspaper Notícias.

The paper said that the fixed line network currently covers 82 districts, and it is expected that the remainder will be covered by 2010.

As well as the fixed lien network, according to information provided during a working visit by the minister for Planning and Development to TDM Wednesday, the company is also focusing its attention on expanding it optical fibre network to provincial capitals.

Joaquim de Carvlho, chairman of the board of TDM, said that the company was making efforts with a view to the optical fibre network reaching three new provincial capitals by the end of the year: Tete, Pemba and Lichinga.

Carvlho said that Tete and Pemba would certainly be linked to the fibre optic system, but that there were some doubts about whether Lichinga would be reached this year or in the first quarter of 2009. (macauhub)