‘Airtel – Zain’ Lost 6 Million Subscribers in Africa Since Bharti’s Acquisition
Wireless Federation Zain has lost 6 million of its subscriber’s base from the day it tied knot with Bharti Airtel. Although according to Airtel’s spokesperson, the reporting in Kenya was different from that of other markets where a user is not accounted for if a person did not receive a single call for a month. [...]
Is Your Smartphone Conflict-Free?
Mobile Tech Today Does that smart phone in your pocket contribute to rape and murder in the depths of Africa? Soon, you’ll know: A new U.S. law requires companies to certify whether their products contain minerals from rebel-controlled mines in Congo and surrounding countries. Topics: Africa, legislation, regulation, smartphone, wireless
ABI: 5 Billion Mobile Subscribers by 2011
Fierce Wireless News Nearly one on in every five people around the world will have a mobile subscription by year-end, according to a new report from ABI Research. The report said that by the end of 2010, there will be 5 billion mobile subscribers worldwide. Topics: Africa, Asia, countries, Europe, ILEC, North America, WiMax, wireless
Zain Receives Offers to Sell Majority Stake
Wireless Federation Offer has been received by shareholders of Middle East and Africa mobile firm Zain to sell a majority stake in the group. Zain is selling most of its African assets to India’s Bharti Airtel. Verbal offers from four parties have been received by the major shareholders in Zain group for the possibility to [...]
MTN May Acquire Orascom’s African Assets
Wireless Federation UPDATE 1: Reuters reported that a source in the Algerian government has disclosed that MTN and Orascom are in discussions and Orascom is required by law to inform the government of any such activity. A senior source at the Algerian government also confirmed that they take a positive view of the sale and [...]
Analysts Expect Wave of New Global Wireless Mergers
Fierce Wireless News Some analysts think the improving global economy will lead to a new spate of wireless mergers worldwide. According to research firm Mergermarket, deal-making in the telecommunications business is on pace to grow 50 percent this year. Topics: Africa, Europe, merger, Middle East, telecom, telecommunications, WiMax, wireless
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: [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
$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 [...]
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, [...]
