Page 105 - SAMENA Trends - Oct-Nov 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

V.tal in Takeover Talks with Ligga, Report Says

Brazilian fiber-optic wholesale operator bank BTG Pactual, which co-owns V.tal. August 2021. It currently offers fiber-to-the-
V.tal has signed a memorandum of Due diligence is on track to commence home (FTTH) connectivity in around 400
understanding (MoU) with regional telco this week and should last 180 days. Ligga Parana municipalities and served 366,358
Ligga Telecom regarding a potential Telecom (known as Copel Telecom until fixed broadband subscriptions as of 30
takeover, a source familiar with the March 2022) has been 100% owned by September 2023, of which 336,013 were
matter has informed BNamericas. As Bordeaux Fundo de Investimento em connected via fiber.
per the report, the process is being Participacoes Multiestrategia (Bordeaux
spearheaded by Brazilian investment Multi-Strategic Investment Fund) since 3

Senegal and Mauritania Commit to Cross-Border Frequency Management

Telecoms regulators in Senegal and
Mauritania have signed a cooperation
agreement relating to cross-border
frequency management. Senegal’s Authority
of Regulation of Telecommunications
and Post (L’Autorite de Regulation des
Telecommunications et des Postes, ARTP)
and the Regulatory Authority of Mauritania
(Autorite de Regulation, ARE) have signed
a memorandum of understanding which
will see the two authorities strengthening
their collaboration in order to reduce cross-
border interference and improve the quality
of telecoms services in regions along the
742km border between the two countries.

CMA Calls for Initial Views on Proposed Three-Vodafone Merger

The UK’s Competition and Markets affect incentives to invest in the quality of
Authority (CMA) has said it is providing ‘an UK mobile networks. This is an opportunity
early opportunity’ for interested parties to for those with an interest in this merger to
comment on the impact that the proposed let us know their views before we launch a
merger of Three UK and Vodafone UK could full investigation.’ The plans for the merger
have on competition. In a press release of Three UK and Vodafone UK were formally
regarding the matter, the competition body announced in June 2023, with it revealed
said this call for initial views comes in that Vodafone Group would take a 51%
advance of it launching a formal stake in the enlarged business, and Three’s
investigation, which is expected to get parent company CK Hutchison Group
underway once it has received further Telecom Holdings (CKHGT) taking the
information from the Three UK and other 49%. In terms of the financial
Vodafone UK. Commenting, Sarah Cardell, elements of the deal, there is no cash UK, with around GBP1.7 billion coming
chief executive of the CMA, said: ‘We will be consideration to be paid, with the MNOs from Three UK. Subject to regulatory and
carefully considering how this deal may instead contributing differential debt shareholder approvals, the deal is expected
affect competition in the UK, which could amounts upon its completion; to close before the end of 2024.
affect the options and prices available to approximately GBP4.3 billion (USD5.4
customers. We will also assess how it may billion) in debt will come from Vodafone

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