Airtel Africa#Countries of operations

In May 2008, it emerged that Airtel was exploring the possibility of buying the MTN Group, a South Africa-based telecommunications company with operations in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East. The Financial Times reported that Bharti was considering offering US$45 billion for a 100% stake in MTN, which would be the largest overseas acquisition ever by an Indian firm. However, both sides emphasised the tentative nature of the talks. The Economist magazine noted, "If anything, Bharti would be marrying up", as MTN had more subscribers, higher revenues and broader geographic coverage.[http://www.economist.com/daily/news/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11323216&top_story=1 "Emerging-market telecoms: Eyes on Africa"], The Economist, 6 May 2008 However, the talks fell apart as MTN Group tried to reverse the negotiations by making Bharti almost a subsidiary of the new company.[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/technology/25bharti.html "$50 Billion Telecom Deal Falls Apart"], The New York Times, 25 May 2008

In May 2009, Airtel confirmed that it was again in talks with MTN and both companies agreed to discuss the potential transaction exclusively by 31 July 2009.{{cite web|url=http://topupguru.com/2009/05/25/bharti-renews-talks-with-mtn/|title=Bharti renews talks with MTN |access-date=19 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024133534/http://topupguru.com/2009/05/25/bharti-renews-talks-with-mtn/ |archive-date=24 October 2014 }} Airtel said "Bharti Airtel Ltd is pleased to announce that it has renewed its effort for a significant partnership with MTN Group".{{cite web|url=http://topupguru.com/2009/05/25/bharti-renews-talks-with-mtn/ |title=Topupguru.com |publisher=Topupguru.com |access-date=23 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024133534/http://topupguru.com/2009/05/25/bharti-renews-talks-with-mtn/ |archive-date=24 October 2014 |df=dmy }} The exclusivity period was extended twice up to 30 September 2009. Talks eventually ended without agreement.{{cite web|url=http://www.telecoms.com/14914/bharti-mtn-call-off-merger-talks |title=Bharti, MTN call off merger talks |publisher=Telecoms.com |date=1 October 2009 |access-date=23 August 2010}}

A solution was proposed where the new company would be listed on 2 stock exchanges, one in South Africa and one in India. However, dual-listing of companies is not permitted by Indian law.{{cite web|url=http://www.cityam.com/article/bharti-airtel-and-mtn-talks-collapse-again-due-dual-listing-disagreement |title=Bharti Airtel and MTN talks collapse again due to dual-listing disagreement | City A.M |publisher=City A.M. |date=1 October 2009 |access-date=12 November 2015}}

{{further|Zain Group}}

In Jun 2010, Bharti struck a deal to buy Zain's mobile operations in 15 African countries for $8.97 billion, in India's second-biggest overseas acquisition after Tata Steel's US$13 billion buy of Corus in 2007. Bharti Airtel completed the acquisition of on 8 June 2010, making Airtel the world's fifth-largest wireless carrier by subscriber base. Airtel reported that its revenues for the fourth quarter of 2010 grew by 53% to $3.2 billion compared to the previous year. The newly acquired Africa division contributed $911 million to the total. However, net profits dropped by 41% from $470 million in 2009 to $291 million 2010 due to a $188 million increase in radio spectrum charges in India and an increase of $106 million in debt interest.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-zain-bharti-idUSTRE6570VJ20100608|title=Bharti closes $9 billion Zain Africa deal|last1=Tripathy | first1=Devidutta |last2=Goma |first2=Eman |date=8 June 2010|work=Reuters|publisher=Reuters|access-date=7 September 2014}}

File:The ship like building of Airtel headquarter.jpg

On 18 November 2010, Airtel rebranded itself in India in the first phase of a global rebranding strategy. The company unveiled a new logo with 'airtel' written in lower case. Designed by London-based brand agency, The Brand Union, the new logo is the letter 'a' in lowercase, with 'airtel' written in lowercase under the logo.{{cite web |url=http://www.afaqs.com/news/story.html?sid=28828_Airtel+dons+a+new+look+plans+to+be+closer+to+consumers+across+the+globe |title=Airtel dons a new look, plans to be closer to consumers across the globe > afaqs! news & features |publisher=Afaqs.com |date=2010-11-19 |access-date=2012-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611191547/http://www.afaqs.com/news/story.html?sid=28828_Airtel+dons+a+new+look+plans+to+be+closer+to+consumers+across+the+globe |archive-date=11 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}

Airtel acquired the Uganda business of Warid in 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.livemint.com/Industry/p7C9SHRAcudSGxRV2OI7VL/Uganda-regulator-clears-Airtels-Warid-Telecom-acquisition.html |title=Uganda regulator clears Airtel's Warid Telecom acquisition |publisher=Mint |date=2013-05-13 |access-date=2014-04-19}}

On 11 August 2010, Bharti Airtel announced that it would acquire 100% stake in Telecom Seychelles for US$62 million taking its global presence to 19 countries. Telecom Seychelles began operations in 1998 and operates 3G, Fixed Line, ship to shore services satellite telephony, among value added services like VSAT and Gateways for International Traffic across the Seychelles under the Airtel brand. The company has over 57% share of the mobile market of Seychelles. Airtel announced plans to invest US$10 million in its fixed and mobile telecoms network in the Seychelles over three years, whilst also participating in the Seychelles East Africa submarine cable (SEAS) project. The US$34 million SEAS project is aimed at improving the Seychelles' global connectivity by building a 2,000 km undersea high-speed link to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.{{cite web |url=http://www.telegeography.com/cu/article.php?article_id=34109&email=html |title=USD10m plan for Airtel Seychelles; Bharti announces commitment to SEAS cable |publisher=Telegeography.com |date=18 August 2010 |access-date=18 September 2012 |archive-date=26 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726185625/https://www.telegeography.com/cu/article.php?article_id=34109&email=html |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|title=Bharti Airtel to buy Telecom Seychelles for Rs 288 crore|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/telecom/Bharti-Airtel-to-buy-Telecom-Seychelles-for-Rs-288-crore/articleshow/6291986.cms|access-date=11 August 2010|newspaper=Economic Times|date=11 August 2010}}

Bharti Airtel was awarded a licence to operate mobile services by the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency in September 2011.{{cite web |title=Bharti Airtel Rwanda entry seen spurring price war |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/rwanda-telecoms-idINL5E7KE0ZK20110914 |website=Reuters |access-date=4 October 2021 |language=en |date=14 September 2011}} Airtel Rwanda Limited launched services on 30 March 2012.{{cite web |title=Airtel launches mobile services in Rwanda |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/telecom/airtel-launches-mobile-services-in-rwanda/articleshow/12471710.cms |website=The Economic Times |date=30 March 2012 |access-date=4 October 2021}} Airtel announced that it had reached an agreement with competitor Millicom to acquire complete control of Tigo Rwanda at a reported cost of $60–70 million in December 2017.{{cite web |last1=Aulakh |first1=Gulveen |title=Bharti Airtel signs agreement to buy Millicom's operations in Rwanda |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/company/corporate-trends/bharti-airtel-signs-agreement-to-buy-millicoms-operations-in-rwanda/articleshow/62128734.cms |website=The Economic Times |date=30 December 2017 |access-date=4 October 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Pandey |first1=Navadha |title=Airtel's Rwanda unit to buy Millicom subsidiary Tigo Rwanda |url=https://www.livemint.com/Industry/D0nXYu3bNZWqknJV7nTERO/Bharti-Airtel-to-buy-Millicoms-operations-in-Rwanda.html |website=mint |access-date=4 October 2021 |language=en |date=19 December 2017}} The acquisition made Airtel the second largest mobile operator in Rwanda with a 40% market share.{{cite web |last1=Kurup |first1=Rajesh |title=Bharti Airtel to acquire Millicom's operations in Rwanda |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/bharti-airtel-to-acquire-millicoms-operations-in-rwanda/article9996165.ece |website=The Hindu Business Line |date=19 December 2017 |access-date=4 October 2021 |language=en}} The company operated as Airtel-Tigo following the merger, until it was rebranded as Airtel Rwanda in January 2020.{{cite web |title=Airtel-Tigo rebrands, launches new campaign |url=https://www.newtimes.co.rw/business/airtel-tigo-rebrands-launches-new-campaign |website=The New Times |access-date=21 October 2021 |language=en |date=16 January 2020}}{{cite web |title=Airtel-Tigo becomes Airtel Rwanda |url=https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2020/01/20/airtel-tigo-becomes-airtel-rwanda/ |website=telegeography.com |access-date=21 October 2021}}

Bharti Airtel announced on 4 June 2019 that it would seek to raise $750 million through an initial public offering for Airtel Africa under which the company would be listed on the London Stock Exchange.{{cite web |title=Airtel Africa to raise $750 mn via IPO, eyes London listing - ET Telecom |url=https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/airtel-africa-to-raise-750-mn-via-ipo-eyes-london-listing/69644888 |website=ETTelecom.com |access-date=4 June 2019 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Airtel Africa to raise ₹5,000 cr via IPO, eyes London listing |url=https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/airtel-africa-to-raise-5000-cr-via-ipo-eyes-london-listing/article27436552.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=4 June 2019 |language=en-IN |date=4 June 2019}}

Airtel Africa operates in the following countries:

Airtel began operating in Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone after acquiring Zain's Africa operations in June 2010.{{cite web |title=Bharti Airtel bidding US$10.7B for Zain's Africa mobile ops |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/urnidgns852573c400693880482576cb0007322f-idUS151558389120100215 |website=Reuters |access-date=21 October 2021 |language=en |date=15 February 2010}} Airtel and French telecom company Orange S.A. signed an agreement in July 2015 for the sale of the former's operations in Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Chad and Congo-Brazzaville to the latter. In January 2016, Airtel announced that it had entered an agreement to sell its operations in Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone to Orange. The value of the deal was not disclosed, but analysts estimated it to be US$800–900 million. The agreement on the sale of operation in Chad and Congo-Brazzaville lapsed.{{cite web|last1=Reporter|first1=B. S.|title=Airtel to sell 2 African operations to Orange|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/bharti-airtel-sells-burkina-sierra-leone-biz-to-orange-116011300126_1.html|website=Business Standard India|access-date=3 March 2017|date=14 January 2016}}{{cite web|title=Airtel signs deal to sell two African operations to France's Orange|url=http://www.firstpost.com/business/airtel-signs-deal-to-sell-two-african-operations-to-frances-orange-2581888.html|website=Firstpost|access-date=3 March 2017|date=13 January 2016}} Orange assumed control of operations in Burkina Faso in June 2016 and Sierra Leone in July 2016.{{cite web|title=Airtel closes sale of its unit in Sierra Leone to France's Orange|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/tech/hardware/airtel-closes-sale-of-its-unit-in-sierra-leone-to-frances-orange/articleshow/53291015.cms|website=The Economic Times|date=19 July 2016 |access-date=3 March 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Lead|first1=Telecom|title=Orange completes Airtel deal in Sierra Leone {{!}} TelecomLead|url=http://www.telecomlead.com/telecom-services/orange-completes-airtel-deal-sierra-leone-70070|website=TelecomLead|access-date=3 March 2017|date=19 July 2016}}{{cite web|title=Orange announces 100% takeover of Airtel in Burkina Faso|url=http://www.africanews.com/2016/06/23/orange-announce-100-percent-takeover-of-airtel-in-burkina-faso/|website=Africanews|access-date=3 March 2017|date=3 March 2017}}{{cite web|title=Orange announces 100% takeover of Airtel in Sierra Leone|url=http://www.africanews.com/2016/07/21/orange-announces-100-percent-takeover-of-airtel-in-sierra-leone/|website=Africanews|access-date=3 March 2017|date=3 March 2017}}

Airtel began operating in Ghana after acquiring Zain's Africa operations in June 2010. On 4 March 2017, Airtel and Millicom International Cellular agreed to merge their operations in Ghana (Airtel Ghana Ltd and Tigo Ghana Ltd) to create the country's second largest mobile operator, with the two companies holding an equal stake in the merged entity.{{cite web|title=Airtel, Millicom ink pact to merge in Ghana - The Economic Times|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/companies-a-z/corporate-trends/airtel-millicom-ink-pact-to-merge-in-ghana/articleshow/57456883.cms|website=The Economic Times|access-date=3 March 2017}}{{cite web|title=Airtel, Millicom sign pact to combine Ghana operations|url=http://www.livemint.com/Companies/jFs45g0EN7ejTK9vlBOdhJ/Airtel-Millicom-sign-pact-to-combine-Ghana-operations.html|website=Mint|date=3 March 2017}} On 27 October 2020, Airtel announced that it planned to exit its business in Ghana, and that it had entered into "advanced stages of discussions" for sale of shares in AirtelTigo to the Government of Ghana.{{cite web|title=Ghana government in talks to takeover AirtelTigo shares |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/ghana-airtel-idINKBN27D29P |website=Reuters |access-date=16 March 2021 |language=en |date=28 October 2020}} AirtelTigo Ghana was sold in October 2020 to the Ghanaian government for $25 million.{{cite web |last1=Mingas |first1=Mingas |title=Ghanaian government buys AirtelTigo for $25 million |url=https://www.capacitymedia.com/articles/3826793/ghanaian-government-buys-airteltigo-for-25-million |website=Capacity Media |access-date=3 April 2021 |language=en |date=29 October 2020}}

File:Bharti Airtel countries of operations.svg

One Network is a mobile phone network that allows Airtel customers to use the service in a number of countries at the same price as their home network. Customers can place outgoing calls at the same rate as their local network, and incoming calls are free.{{cite web|last=Bafna |first=Sanjay |url=http://telecomtalk.info/airtel-cuctomers-africa-free-incoming-calls-international-roaming-india-sri-lanka-bangladesh/102789/#more-102789 |title=AIRTEL Customers in AFRICA to Get FREE Incoming Calls While International Roaming in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh |publisher=Telecomtalk.info |date=15 November 2012 |access-date=15 June 2013}} {{as of|2021}}, the service is available in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Gabon, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.{{cite web|url=http://africa.airtel.com/wps/wcm/connect/africarevamp/malawi/home/personal/voice-and-text/voice/one-network |title=One Network Services |year=2014 |publisher=Airtel |access-date=7 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140721033945/http://www.africa.airtel.com/wps/wcm/connect/AfricaRevamp/malawi/home/personal/voice-and-text/voice/one-network |archive-date=21 July 2014 |df=dmy }}

In March 2021, Airtel Africa sold an undisclosed minority fraction of its Airtel Money business, to San Francisco-based private equity firm TPG Capital, at a contract price of US$200 million. TPG is investing in the Airtel Money business of Airtel Africa, through its subsidiary, The Arise Fund.{{cite web|url=https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/corporate/companies/airtel-sells-mobile-money-service-pe-firm-for-sh21-billion-3327878 |title=Airtel sells mobile money service stake to PE firm for Sh21 billion |newspaper=Business Daily Africa |date=19 March 2021 |author=Victor Juma |access-date=19 March 2021 | location=Nairobi}} Shortly after, in early April 2021, Airtel Africa sold an additional undisclosed minority stake of Airtel Money to Mastercard for US$100 million.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/01/airtel-africa-receives-additional-100m-for-its-mobile-money-business-from-mastercard/ |title=Airtel Africa receives $100M for its mobile money business from Mastercard |newspaper=Techcrunch |date=1 April 2021 |author=Tage Kene-Okafor |access-date=12 April 2021}}

• airtel India
• airtel Sri Lanka
• airtel Bangladesh

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Bharti Enterprises}}

{{FTSE 100 Index constituents}}

{{Mobile Operators in Chad}}

{{Mobile Operators in Democratic Republic of the Congo}}

{{Mobile Operators in Gabon}}

{{Mobile Operators in Kenya}}

{{Mobile Operators in Madagascar}}

{{Mobile Operators in Malawi}}

{{Mobile Operators in Niger}}

{{Mobile Operators in Nigeria}}

{{Mobile Operators in Republic of the Congo}}

{{Mobile Operators in Rwanda}}

{{Mobile Operators in Seychelles}}

{{Tanzania telecom operators}}

{{Mobile network operators in Uganda}}

{{Mobile Operators in Zambia}}

{{Authority control}}

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