Indian telecoms giant Bharti Airtel which operates in 15 countries across Africa has refuted speculations that it is exiting from Africa.
The firm has reaffirmed that it remains committed to Africa and will continue to invest in its operations to grow sustainably in Africa.
Airtel Africa Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Raghunath Mandava said “All the steps taken recently with regard to human resources and infrastructure have been geared towards readying the organization to grow efficiently and sustainably in the medium to long term.”
Mr Mandava said the company remains committed to competing in various markets and providing more choice to customers through further investments to ensure consistent delivery of quality and value for money services to our customers.
“We are also accelerating our investments in new data networks and to modernize our existing networks. We are committed to launch 4 G in multiple countries.”
He added “Mergers and acquisitions continue to be the norm for any multinational organization and they affect all global organizations in equal measures as and when they happen. As a strategy, we look for opportunities to acquire or merge in opcos that are operating in a fragmented market structure with too many players in a small market.”
But according to Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, the firm is planning to rationalise its African operations.
Mr Mittal admitted that the firm’s run in Africa had not been successful as they had hoped.
Last year, Bharti Airtel sold its operation in Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone to Orange for a reported US$900 million.
To further cut debt, Bharti Airtel sold 1,350 communication towers and 100 infrastructure development sites to the American Tower Corporation in a $180 million deal.
Thanks, Airtel. I have you on roam, here in Johannesburg, 24/7 & 365/365.
Terrible and very expensive Internet service. I am surprised MTN has not killed them off.
Typical docility even someone who is stealing from you and abusing your children you would go to thank them!!
You can go who cares? Go, so that Vodacom can start offering call services as well at the lowest cost in Zambia.
Worse service provider when it cames to staff welfare and revenue expenditure.
Why are you taking long you have made enough we know
Where would they go to where they can offer shambolic service and charge rip off rates.
Actually, it may not be a bad idea if you actually left and sold your outfit to more African engaged investors.
We are making billionaires out of these Indians…look at our own like Mo Ibrahim they pump back
Leaving to where. No one can accept what airtel does in any other continent
THIS MR MANDEVU IS HE THE ONE WHO IS ONE SECRET PAYROL AS A GHOST WORKER AT MTN