Bharti Regains Losses as Investors Revisit Zain Deal
Wireless Federation
Within two days of the announcement that Bharti Airtel and Zain will enter into exclusive talks for Zain’s African assets, Bharti lost $3.6 billion in market capitalisation. However, an improvement in the investor’s sentiments has been noticed since then, primarily after Bharti’s conference call with analysts in end-February on the Zain acquisition.
Topics: Africa, [...]
Zain’s Legal Dispute With Nigerian Assets May Delay Bharti Deal
Wireless Federation
The pending legal dispute over the ownership of Zain on its Nigerian assets might lead to the delay in the selling of the African assets by the company to Indian telco, Bharti Airtel. Econet Wireless Holdings and Zain have been undergoing a long dispute and the former has claimed a right of first refusal [...]
Bharti May Sell Shares to SingTel
Wireless Federation
Shares of Bharti Airtel might be sold to Singapore Telecommunications by the operator to partly fund its purchase of Zain’s African assets and avoid taking on too much debt. According to SingTel, it is premature to talk about funding as the transaction is subject to ongoing discussions, due diligence and customary regulatory approvals and [...]
$2.5 Billion to Buy Nigerian Telco by China Unicom
Wireless Federation
$2.5 billion has been bid by China Unicom to take control of suffering Nigerian telco Nitel in partnership with Dubai-based telecom distributor Minerva and local CDMA player GiCell in a group called New Generations Telecommunications. If the deal materializes, it would be one of China’s biggest investments in Africa, even though the bidding price [...]
Bharti Makes $10.7 Billion Offer For Zain
Wireless Federation
Bharti is eyeing the african market all over again, with an offer of $10.7 billion for Zain’s african operations. With acquisition talks abuzz, Zain’s share price on the Kuwait Stock Exchange has risen by more than a fifth in about a week, raising it’s value to $16.2 billion.
Topics: Africa, Bharti, wireless, Zain
Zain Getting No Offers for African Assets
Wireless Federation
No offers have been received by Kuwait’s Mobile Telecommunications Co., better known as Zain for its Africa assets. Earlier it was reported that France’s Vivendi, France Telecom and the U.K.’s Vodafone Group are holding talks with Zain to buy the company’s Africa operations.
Topics: Africa, France Telecom, telecom, telecommunications, wireless, Zain
Apple, Nokia dominate worldwide mobile market
CNET
Apple’s holds the top mobile market share in Western Europe and America, while Nokia takes the lead in Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe, says new report from AdMob.
Topics: 3G, Africa, Asia, Europe, NextG, Nokia
Warid reveals bigger plans with Indian partners
Wireless Federation
After disinvesting majority of its shares in its Africa and Bangladesh operations to Ruias promoted Essar group and Bharti Airtel, the Dhabi Group-owned Warid Telecom has planned to jointly bid for telecom l[Content protected for Silver members only]
Topics: Africa, NextG, telecom, wireless
Rwanda receives its third mobile network service
Wireless Federation
African telecom company Millicom officially launched its mobile operations in Rwanda after receiving the license in December 2008, thus becoming the third operator in the country. The service will cover almost 50% of the population while there are plans to extend the service in the next three years.
Topics: 3G, Africa, NextG, telecom, wireless
MTN borrows 18Mn for network overhaul (Rwanda)
Wireless Federation
Africa’s fastest growing and leading mobile network, MTN, signed US$18 million deal with six local banks to overhaul its network in Rwanda. The deal came after Millicom International Cellular, a rival operator, started its mobile operation in mid November.
Topics: Africa, cellular, NextG, wireless
Airtel not looking to sweeten MTN deal, says Mittal (India)
Wireless Federation
Bharti Airtel Ltd. is not looking to sweeten its deal to take control of South African telecom company MTN Group Ltd., Bharti Chairman Sunil Mittal’s reportedly said.
Topics: Africa, NextG, telecom, wireless
MTN asks for extra $1Bn from Bharti Airtel (South Africa, India)
Wireless Federation
MTN, the South African mobile operator, wants Bharti Airtel, the Indian mobile operator, to raise its offer by more than $1 billion, if the planned possible merger has to be successful.
Topics: Africa, merger, NextG, wireless
RCom shows interest in Zain’s African operations (India)
Wireless Federation
As reported yesterday, Zain is in talks with three foreign telcos for Celtel sale which includes an Indian telco, which is Reliance Communications (RCom). The sales will not include the Moroccan and Sudanese operations.
Topics: Africa, NextG, Reliance Communications, wireless
Orange to implement cost cutting technique in African operations
Wireless Federation
Orange intends to work on cost cutting in most of its African operation by using the “Cell Broadcast” technique, the director responsible for emerging countries, Arnauld Blondet reportedly said.
Topics: Africa, NextG, Orange, wireless
Bharti Airtel & MTN extend exclusive talks to 31 August
Wireless Federation
Bharti Airtel, the Indian mobile operator and MTN, the South African mobile operator, have extended their exclusive talks on a possible merger by a month to 31 August.
Topics: Africa, merger, NextG, wireless
