JOHANNESBURG, South Africa—Zimbabwean telecommunications company TeleAccess is reported to be involved in negations to purchase Telecel International, the mobile network operator with services in 13 African countries including Zimbabwe.
TeleAccess Chief Executive Daniel Shuma said the company would also apply for a global mobile personal communications by satellite (GMPCS) license in South Africa to deliver voice communications via satellite.
Shuma added that the acquisition strategy was key to building a network in the sub-Saharan region.
TeleAccess runs the risk of losing a US$400 million deal as the strategic partner in Comtel, the pan-African telecommunications initiative to connect 22 member states of Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). The obstacle in the operator’s path appears to be raising financing for the license fees of US$320 million in its home country of Zimbabwe.
