MTN Group

Type	Public
Founded	1994
Headquarters	South Africa
Key people	Phuthuma Nhleko, CEO
Industry	Telecommunications
Products	GSM-related products Internet services
Website	www.mtn.com

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MTN Group is a South Africa-based multinational mobile telecommunications company, operating in many African and Middle Eastern countries.

MTN describes itself as "the leader in telecommunications in Africa and the Middle East" and as of early 2007 is active in 21 countries.^[1][2] (Since 2004, Africa has been the fastest growing mobile phone market in the world.^[3][4][5])

MTN Group's President and CEO is Phuthuma Nhleko. The company sponsors the CAF Champions League football competition as well as APOEL F.C. winners of the Cypriot First Division in 2009 and participants in the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League.

Contents 1 Coverage 2 Business 2.1 Talks with Bharti Airtel and Reliance Communications 2.2 International Carrier Services 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Coverage

MTN acquired Investcom, thereby expanding to ten more countries, mainly under the Areeba and Spacetel brands.^[6]

As of early 2007, MTN is active in:

• Afghanistan (Investcom)
• Benin (Investcom)
• Botswana (Botswana Mascom)
• Cameroon (MTN Cameroon)
• Republic of Congo (MTN Congo SA)
• Cote d'Ivoire (MTN Cote d'Ivoire)
• Cyprus (MTN Cyprus)
• Ghana (Investcom, MTN Ghana)
• Guinea Bissau (Investcom)
• Republic of Guinea (Investcom)
• Iran (MTN Irancell)
• Liberia (Investcom)
• Montenegro (MTN CG) [planned 2011]
• Nigeria (MTN Nigeria)
• Rwanda (MTN Rwanda)
• South Africa (MTN South Africa)
• Sudan (Investcom)
• Swaziland (MTN Swaziland)
• Syria (Investcom)
• Uganda (MTN Uganda)
• Yemen (Investcom, Spacetel)
• Zambia (MTN Zambia)

MTN is also expanding its operations to Pakistan. MTN bought Investcom back in 2003 and has expanded noticeably in the Middle East.

[edit] Business

MTN's competition in South Africa includes Vodacom, Cellc and Virgin Mobile.

[edit] Talks with Bharti Airtel and Reliance Communications

In May 2008, it emerged that Bharti Airtel, an India-based telecommunications company, was exploring the possibility of buying MTN Group. The Financial Times reported that Bharti was considering offering US$19 billion for a 51% stake in MTN, which would be the largest overseas acquisition ever by an Indian firm.

However, talks fell through after a few days and Bharti Airtel pulled out of the proposed deal on May 24. Two days later, it was reported that another Indian telecommunications company, Reliance Communications is in talks with MTN for a "potential combination of their businesses." If realized, the estimated worth of the combined entity would have been $70 billion (£35 billion), with 116 million subscribers worldwide. ^[7][8]

However, on July 18, the two companies announced that they had mutually decided to end discussions regarding the merger.

[edit] International Carrier Services

June 26, 2009, MTN Group participated in Belgacom International Carrier Services (BICS), a subsidiary of Belgacom, by merging it with its own subsidiary, MTN ICS. BICS will function as official international gateway for all international carrier services of Belgacom, Swisscom and MTN group. These companies respectively hold 57.6 %, 22.4 % and 20.0 % of the shares of the company.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• MTN Group

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