* Three operators have submitted applications for merger
* Mobile subscribers in Nigeria to hit 120 million next year
(Adds quotes from official)
DUBAI Oct 15 (Reuters) – Three of Nigeria’s CDMA mobile
operators – Starcomms, Multilinks and MTS – are
seeking approval to merge, the Nigerian telecoms regulator said
on Monday.
Lolia Emakpore, a director of the Nigerian Communications
Commission (NCC), told Reuters at a telecoms conference in Dubai
she expects the mobile subscriber base in Nigeria to grow 14
percent next year to 120 million.
Most subscribers are on systems that use the GSM technology
and CDMA operators have been hardest hit by increasing
competition.
“The discussions are going on and are not concluded yet.
It’s purely a commercial thing between the companies,” she said
of the proposed three way merger. “We are looking at them coming
together and becoming a bigger CDMA provider.”
Asked whether they had already submitted applications to the
regulator to merge, she said: “I believe so.”
Starcomms is the only telecoms company in Nigeria that is
listed on the local bourse.
The number of mobile users in Africa’s most populous nation
crossed the 100 million subscriber base in the first half of the
year, adding six million new callers from 2011.
Continued…
