Deutsche Telekom, Russia's Vimpel eying MTN: report

21 May 2008

Mumbai: European telecom major Deutsche Telekom and Russia's Vimpel Communications are understood to have shown interest in the MTN Group even as Bharti Airtel said it has started exploratory talks with the South Africa telecom giant, reports quoting sources close to the development said.

The reports come after the announcement by Bharti Group  chairman Sunil Mittal that he will soon start another round of negotiations with MTN.

Bharti Airtel has been in talks with the MTN Group aimed at "combining the strengths of the two leading emerging market players".

Bharti Airtel top brass, including Sunil Mittal are planning to hold a second round of talks with MTN in Johannesburg possibly this week.

A report in German business magazine WirtschaftsWoche, meanwhile, said other companies could also enter the scene.

"European telecom companies have a general interest in Africa, so I cannot rule out that in future well-known telecom companies could express interest," the report on the magazine's website quoted MTN chief executive Phuthuma Nhleko as saying.