Linxtelecom Warsaw Data Center

On November 22, 2010, MIGA issued a guarantee of €100,000 to Linx Telecommunications B.V. (Linx) of the Netherlands covering its equity investment in its subsidiary Warsaw DC Sp Zo.o. of Poland. ^[1] MIGA also issued a guarantee of €2.6 million for ABN Amro’s non-shareholder loan to the project.^[2] The coverage is for up to six years against the risks of transfer restriction, expropriation, and war and civil disturbance.

This project consists of establishment and operation of a data center in Warsaw that will provide state-of-the art data center and connectivity services to primarily international customers.

The project hopes to leverage shared infrastructure and data management in order to reach economies of scale—thereby stimulating growth of technology-intensive and knowledge-based industries in Poland. Specifically, the project expects the following development results: improvement of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and access to information; a lower cost of entry into the ICT market; increased competition in ICT market; rapidly expanding data/telecom networks; and local employment opportunities.

The World Bank Group’s Country Partnership Strategy for Poland for 2009-2013 notes a need for continued progress in developing the country’s knowledge economy. In fact, Poland’s European Union accession has driven the liberalization of the ICT sector, of which this project is a part.

The project was underwritten through MIGA’s Small Investment Program.

^[1] The guarantee was expired on December 31, 2015.

^[2] The guarantee was cancelled on January 14, 2013.