Mobile operator Digital Star Media is looking to buy rival Excell, which could pave the way for more consolidation in the overcrowded Cambodian telecom market, according to the Phnom Penh Post.
The country is currently populated with eight mobile…
Mobile operator Digital Star Media is looking to buy rival Excell, which could pave the way for more consolidation in the overcrowded Cambodian telecom market, according to the Phnom Penh Post.
The country is currently populated with eight mobile operators, Excell being the smallest, the newspaper wrote.
Cambodia has already started seeing the beginning of a consolidation trend. In February, Smart Mobile and Star-Cell, respectively number five and number seven in the country, merged their operations.
In an interview with TelecomFinance at the time, the CEO of Smart Mobile, Thomas Hundt, said: “The country has population of 15 million. When comparing it with other countries of a similar size or similar economic development, we can confirm that eight operators is too much.
“It makes the market highly crowded and very much competitive. Realistically, there should only be a maximum of five operators. That’s why I expect more consolidation in the future, but when and between which companies is difficult to tell.”
Digital Star Media COO Frank May was quoted saying that, through this acquisition, the company is looking to secure Excell’s 28 telecom towers, allowing it to be present in all of Cambodia’s 24 provinces by mid-2012.
The deal is reportedly expected to be completed by the end of July.
The companies could not be reached for comment by press time.
