In a significant development for the South African telecommunications sector, MTN Group, Africa’s largest wireless carrier, is reportedly considering reigniting talks to acquire its smaller rival, Telkom SA. Sources familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity, say that Telkom is also preparing for a potential new takeover bid by consulting with its advisors.
Negotiations between the two companies could begin as early as the end of the year, although there’s no guarantee that they will ultimately result in a deal. Representatives from both MTN and Telkom have declined to comment on the matter.
This isn’t the first time the two companies have explored a merger. In 2022, MTN walked away from earlier discussions due to disagreements over exclusivity and significant concerns about securing antitrust approval. A merger would create South Africa’s largest mobile operator, a deal that would likely face intense scrutiny from the country’s competition authorities.
Since the 2022 talks fell through, Telkom’s shares have surged over 40%, valuing the company at approximately R25 billion. The latest news of renewed interest caused Telkom’s shares to jump as much as 16% in intraday trading, while MTN’s shares saw a slight decline.
A key factor driving MTN’s renewed confidence is the recent decision by regulators to approve a deal between rival Vodacom Group and Remgro’s fiber business. This approval has given MTN reason to believe that a combination with Telkom could also pass regulatory muster.
The South African government has been actively pushing for improved national connectivity and greater investment in rural areas. The telecommunications industry argues that this is only commercially viable if companies avoid duplicating infrastructure. A merger between MTN and Telkom could be seen as a way to streamline operations and better serve these strategic goals.
To strengthen its position and expertise for a potential deal, MTN has appointed its Chief Financial Officer, Tsholofelo Molefe, to lead its mergers and acquisitions unit. Notably, Molefe is a former Telkom executive, giving MTN an insider’s perspective.
A successful acquisition of Telkom would allow MTN to close the market-share gap with its primary rival, Vodacom, which is the current market leader controlled by the UK’s Vodafone Group Plc.
