Sistema nearing deal with Aircel: Reports

The question whether Sistema JSFC had finally struck its long-rumoured deal for buying out all or part of Malaysian telecom operator Maxis Communications' 74-per cent stake in Indian telco Aircel Ltd has not yet been settled. However, with both Sistema Shyam Teleservices Ltd (SSTL) and Aircel having denied any deal was in the works, the buzz around it refuses to die down.

Live Mint said another person who was associated with Aircel had confirmed the deal.

It also said that a government official familiar with the developments had told the paper that the acquisition could not be ruled out. The Russian telco had lobbied the Indian government over the cancellation of its second-generation (2G) telecom licences, through the Russian government.

''Aircel is not aware of any such development you referred to. If and when anything happens on that front, we will surely share it with Mint,'' an Aircel spokesperson said in a statement.

"SSTL would like to categorically state that there were no plans of acquiring any telecom service provider," an SSTL spokesperson said.

The company added it also believed such talk was  mischievous and was based on sheer speculation.