France-based telecom group Orange is contemplating acquiring certain tower assets of Bharti Airtel in Africa for increasing its presence in the region. The move is in line with Orange Group?s plans to create new unit, Orange Africa, for grouping its emerging-market operations into a single unit by mid-2015.
At present, the company is weighing various options for Orange Africa including takeovers, partnerships and an initial public offering (IPO) of its African unit.
Apart from Bharti Airtel, Orange is reported to be in talks with Sweden-based Millicom International Cellular for the purchase of its African assets.
In December 2014, Bharti Airtel signed a deal with IHS Holding to sell its 1,100 telecom towers in Zambia and Rwanda.
