MTN

Several leading international operators are among the 13 potential investors that have expressed interest in acquiring Nitel, the struggling state-controlled Nigerian operator.

Reports this week claim that Indian mobile operator Bharti has sweetened its offer to buy a 49 percent stake in South Africa's MTN, increasing the likelihood that the two companies will reach a deal to create a global industry giant

A deal between MTN, of South Africa, and Bharti Airtel, of India, to allow the telecoms groups to exploit markets in Africa and the Middle East may be in trouble, according to a Financial Times (FT) report.

Financial Times reports that the planned merger between India's Bharti and South Africa's MTN could be scuppered by the South African government, which is worried about the business falling under control of a foreign entity.

MTN Uganda has raised US$100 million from a syndicate of banks, which it will use to fund network expansion, reports TeleGeography. Banks involved included the Ugandan arms of Stanbic Bank, Standard Chartered, Kenya Commercial Bank and Barclays Bank.

India's Bharti and South Africa's MTN have cancelled their US$23 billion merger plans for the second time in two years, with Bharti blaming the South African government for the collapse. "Bharti and MTN have decided to disengage from their discussions when the exclusivity period ends on September 30, 2009," Bharti said in a statement yesterday.