Talks between India’s top mobile firm Bharti and South Africa’s flagship cellular group MTN may have to be extended due to new hurdles in their bid to create a telecoms giant,analysts say.
But a deal could still emerge despite regulatory obstacles that have cropped up in the complex 24-billion-dollar share-swap negotiations,they said.
The latest deadline set by Bharti Airtel,owned by tycoon Sunil Bharti Mittal,and MTN to wrap up exclusive talks to create the world’s third-largest mobile phone operator by subscribers expires Wednesday.
Many analysts believe the companies will announce a third extension of the talks,which began in May aimed at forging a telecom powerhouse with annual revenues of over 20 billion dollars and 200 million customers.