Bharti stir up African dream, again looking for partner

Industry speculation that Bharti Airtel will to a bid for cell C or most recent newcomer 8ta. Reuters

Industry speculation that Bharti Airtel will to a bid for both cell-C, the third largest mobile company in South Africa, or most recent newcomer 8ta, an offshoot of former State monopoly Telkom, the report said.

With 8ta fight to win a foothold, analysts found that every bid by Bharti would be for cell-C instead, it added. The report said cell C and Bharti Airtel no comment on the most recent speculations, while Telkom said there was no approach was made.

There is also speculation in recent weeks about a merger between cell C and 8ta after cell C Chief Executive Officer Alan button-Craig hinted that a consolidation within the industry in South Africa is inevitable for it was viable.

Analyst Chris Gilmour told the weekly magazine that although cell C would one day gain for Bharti Airtel, it's probably more expensive than 8ta because it had an established infrastructure and customer base.

the main attraction to 8ta Bharti Airtel would the access that it currently has a lot of 2.3 GHz spectrum, which was a legacy of Telkom.

But the industry regulator to approve the sale of 8ta was unlikely this spectrum to anyone buying the company, especially because it was awarded to Telkom and not directly after hot contestation and protests 8ta of other operators in the industry, according to analyst Arthur Goldstuck of Worlwideworx, which advised Bharti Airtel to look at other companies in South Africa instead.

PTI

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