South African mobile operator Vodacom has dismissed a report suggesting it is in talks with Botswana’s Bemobile to acquire a stake in the state-owned telco.
Citing sources, news website Biztech Africa reported today that a transaction could be…
South African mobile operator Vodacom has dismissed a report suggesting it is in talks with Botswana’s Bemobile to acquire a stake in the state-owned telco.
Citing sources, news website Biztech Africa reported today that a transaction could be announced within the next two months and would allow Bemobile to roll out 3G services.
But a spokesperson for Vodacom rejected the claim, telling TelecomFinance: “As far as I’m aware we’ve not had any interaction with this company and certainly have no pending plans.”
Bemobile is Botswana’s smallest wireless player, behind Mascom and Orange, while Vodacom, controlled by Britain’s Vodafone, is South Africa’s largest operator.
Plans to privatise Bemobile and its fixed-line parent Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) have been in the pipeline since 2006. But the process has been postponed several times because of various regulatory issues.
In recent reported comments, infrastructure minister Nonofo Molefhi reiterated that in case of a privatisation, the government would keep a 51% stake in Bemobile.
