MTN buys 44% of Botswana's Mascom

The rumour we reported last week turned out to be true. Acquisitive African mobile operator MTN has bought an effective 44% holding in Botswana’s largest mobile company, Mascom Wireless Botswana Ltd. According to the South African-based MTN, the deal will cost it around US$D128 million. Mascom has a market share of 70% in Botswana and a reported 440,000 subscribers.