MTN goes on spending spree in Ivory Coast

Pan African operator MTN continued its acquisition spree this week, snapping up two service providers on the Ivory Coast.

MTN, which is based in South Africa, said it has acquired 100 per cent of the Ivory Coast’s second biggest land line operator, Arobase, as well as internet service provider Afnet. Financial details were not revealed.

The move will give MTN a strong foothold in Cote d’Ivoire’s fixed line and broadband market as well as a platform for converged services. MTN already operates a cellular network in the country, and both Arobase and Afnet run WiMAX networks.

MTN has been expanding its footprint of late, and in June entered into an agreement with Verizon Business, to acquire the US carrier’s South African operation, Verizon Business South Africa.

Merger discussions with Indian carrier Reliance Communications appear to have ended, but if they had come to fruition would have created an emerging markets powerhouse.

The Indian deal was posited as a takeover of Reliance by MTN and followed in the wake of collapsed discussions between the African operator and Reliance’s rival, Bharti Airtel, in May.