Airtel may acquire Essar Telecom's Kenya business

March 04, 2014 07:14 pm | Updated May 19, 2016 06:17 am IST - NEW DELHI:

Bharti Airtel is planning to acquire Essar Telecom's business in Kenya, according to a company statement. File photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Bharti Airtel is planning to acquire Essar Telecom's business in Kenya, according to a company statement. File photo: Shanker Chakravarty

With an aim to increase its presence in Africa, Bharti Airtel is planning to acquire Essar Telecom's business in Kenya.

"Airtel Networks Kenya Limited ("Airtel Kenya") has sought an approval from the Communications Authority of Kenya to acquire the telecommunications licenses and subscribers of Essar Telecom Kenya Limited, which operates under the brand name 'yuMobile'", leading mobile operators said in a statement.

"The proposed arrangement envisages over 2.7 million customers of Essar Telecom Kenya becoming part of Airtel Kenya's mobile network.

The proposed association will undergo seamless integration once definitive agreements are signed and requisite regulatory and statutory approvals are received," it added.

Apart from Airtel, Kenya's leading operator Safaricom is likely to acquire Essar Telecom's infrastructure. The total deal is estimated to be between $90-100 million.

If the deal goes through, it will be Bharti Airtel's second acquisition within a month after having bought business and assets of Mumbai-based Loop Mobile for about Rs.700 crore.

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