UAE-based operator Etisalat is eyeing a presence in many more Middle Eastern and African countries. The group – which now has over 100 million subscribers across 18 markets – is looking at expanding into Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Oman, Syria and Morocco, according to comments from chairman Mohammed Omran at last week’s GSMA Mobile World Congress. Reuters later reported that the company is also considering a move into Algeria, potentially via the purchase of Djezzy, the local unit of Egypt’s Orascom Telecom.

Interestingly, Omran also noted at Congress that he believes India will only have six operators within three years. Omran said he was confident that Etisalat’s existing Indian operation would be one of the acquirers in the large market shakeup.