Mergers & Acquisition in Indian Telecom Industry( Last 5 years)

Bharti- Zain Merger

India’s biggest telecom company by both revenues and subscribers, Bharti Airtel Ltd, on 30 march 2010 announced a deal with Kuwait-based Zain Group for the acquisition of the latter’s African operations.The total worth of the deal is $10.7 billion (Rs48,043 crore), Bharti will acquire Zain’s mobile services operations in 15 countries with a combined strength of 42 million customers. The deal includes a $9 billion cash component. This is the third attempt by Bharti Airtel to enter the African market, after two failed bids earlier to acquire MTN Group Ltd of South Africa. After this deal Bharti has entered into the league of the top five telecom operators in the world with more than 180 million subscriber base spread across 18 countries.

RCOM-GTL Merger-

In june 2010 The flagship company of the Anil Ambani group, Reliance Communications Ltd (RCom),combine its telecom towers business with GTL Infrastructure Ltd in a deal that will create a transmission network valued at Rs50,000 crore.

Reliance -Infotel Merger-
Reliance Industries has bought 95% stake in Infotel Broadband Services for Rs.4,800 Cr. Infotel will issue fresh equity shares to RIL.Recently Infotel Broadband Services has won pan India Broadband Wireless Access spectrum license for 22 circles for around Rs 12,848 crore ($2.7 billion).

Telenor -Unitech Merger

Telenor-Norwegian telecom operator completed the acquisition of 49% stake in Unitech Wireless Ltd, the telecom arm of the realty firm, Unitech Ltd, by infusing additional investment of Rs. 1,130 crore for an additional 15.5%. Telenor had earlier invested Rs. 1,250 crore in the telco for a 33.5%.


Swan Telecom - Etisalat Merger-
Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat), largest operator in the Arab world, on 23 sep 2008 announced it has signed a deal to acquire 45 per cent stake in recently-licensed Indian telecom firm Swan Telecom Private Limited (Swan Telecom) for $900 million.

Bahrain Telecom -S Tel Merger-
Gulf-based Bahrain Telecommunications Co bought 49% stake in Indian mobile operator S Tel Ltd for $225 million. S Tel has licenses to operate in 6 Indian states - Bihar, Orissa, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, North East and Assam.
Maxis Communications and Aircel Merger-
Maxis Communications acquired a 74-per cent stake in Aircel Cellular Ltd, One of the country’s leading GSM telecom player, which operates in 10 telecom circles in India,in a deal of US$ 1.08 billion.

Vodafone - Hutch Merger -

In year 2007 Vodafone bought a controlling stake in Hutch-Essar from Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited (HTIL) for $10.9 billion.

Telekom Malasia - Spice Communication Merger -

Telekom Malaysia acquired a 49-per cent stake in Spice Communications for US$ 179 million.