HARARE - Mobile operator NetOne is in talks with South Africa's MTN and other African mobile firms about selling a 49 percent stake.
NetOne is the smallest mobile operator in Zimbabwe, lagging behind Econet Wireless and Telecel, a local unit of Egypt’s Orascom Telecom. Managing director Reward Kangai valued NetOne at between US$500 and US$800 million. “We expect an agreement during the second quarter of the year.
“We are in talks with MTN, among others, over the possibility of them taking 49 percent in NetOne,” Kangai saiD. But he could not be drawn to disclose the other African operators. Kangai said he expected NetOne’s subscriber base to increase to 2.5
million this year from 1.6 million in 2010. He said the company was hindered by the country’s telecommunications laws from selling more than 49 percent of its shares to a strategic investor.
Zimbabwe has a relatively low mobile penetration rate, which makes it attractive for large mobile operators seeking to expand their footprint on the African continent. Kangai said NetOne’s turnover would double to US$200 million in 2011 boosted by an increase in subscribers and a recovering economy.
“It (low mobile penetration) presents an opportunity for the company to grow, which also presents business opportunity for the strategic partner,” Kangai said. The Minister of State Enterprises and Parastatals, Gorden Moyo, said NetOne was one of the parastatals which Government had given the green light to seek a strategic partner to resuscitate its operations.
Post published in: Economy