The Lybian operator will compete alongside Angola’s Unitel/Angola Cables, Russia’s Altimo Holdings/VimpelCom and Bharat Sanchar Nigam of India, to acquire a majority stake in Zamtel, writes Zambia’s local daily The East African.
Zambia’s mobile penetration is around 33% in a population of 12,2 million people. With only 200 000 subscribers, Zamtel has been lagging behind rivals Zain and MTN.
Zain Zambia has 2.3 million subscribers, which translates to a massive 75% market share.
Moreover, the Zambian operator carries a debt burden of $125 million and an annual operating deficit of $17 million.
“We know it’s indebted, but those things can be sorted out”, commented LAP Green chief commercial officer, Hans Paulsen.
LAP Green Network owns 62% of Uganda Telecom and has recently bought 80% of Sudanese operator Gemtel. Besides Zamtel, the operator eyes stakes in Rwandatel of Rwanda, Sonitel and Sahelcom of Niger and Cote D’Ivoire and Ambitel GreenN of Sierra Leone.
