Airtel Tigo merger gets NCA approval in Ghana

Bharti Airtel has received National Communications Authority's approval for its proposed merger between Bharti Ghana (Airtel) and Millicom Ghana Limited (Tigo), a move that wouldcreate the second-largest mobile network operations in Ghana.

The authority's approval came in subject to certain conditions, Airtel said in a statement.

The merger, which was announced in March this year, required the regulator to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the application and the regulatory ecosystem.

The merged entities will have to submit a network integration plan to the Authority, indicating how they intend to relinquish portions of their total spectrum allocation. This, however, will be done in phases on geographical area basis and over a period not exceeding 18 months to avoid disruptions on the network.

On the issue of numbers, the merged entity will retain all the numbering resources held by the merging entities. The NCA has also requested the merged entity to submit a plan toeducate customers about changes and related measures within 30 days from date of merger.

The merger approval is also conditioned with an option for Government participation.

Based on agreements that have been accepted by the merging entities and the payment of relevant fees, a supplementary agreement to the licences of the merging entities will besigned between the NCA and the merging entities; the day of the signing of the agreement will be the effective date of the merger.

The merged entity will have a 3G licence valid until January 25, 2024, while their 2G licence
will be valid until 30 October 2021.