Rwanda: Utilities Regulator approves Airtel's acquisition of Tigo.(image source: Soko Directory)
Telecommunications services provider, Bahari Airtel has announced that the Rwanda Utility Regulatory Authority (RURA) has approved the transfer of 100% of shares held by Millicom in Tigo Rwanda. This will make Airtel the second largest operator in Rwanda behind MTN.
Existing Tigo Rwanda subscribers will not be affected by the move. They will not be required to change their telephone numbers, and cash services will not be affected.
According to Bharti, the acquisition will position Airtel as number two in Rwanda with revenues of over USD $80 million and a revenue market share of over 40 percent. Existing Millicom Rwanda customers will join over 370 million customers on Airtel’s global network in seventeen countries. Figures from RURA show Airtel had 1.63 million subscribers in October 2017.
The merged entity will have the largest customer base in Rwanda with 5.9 million subscribers. The combined networks of the two companies will serve customers with voice/ data services, global roaming and mobile banking services. It will also have Rwanda’s largest sales and distribution network.
Edited by Fundisiwe Maseko
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