The Hindu Business Line : Bharti keen to offer services in Gabon

Bharti Enterprises is in talks with the Government of Gabon to offer telecom services in the African country including the possibility of picking up stake in the State-run company Gabon Telecom. The move is part of Bharti's plans to launch operations outside of India.

In this regard, Mr Sunil Mittal, Chairman and Managing Director, Bharti Group held talks with senior officials from Gabon including Mr Paul Biyoghe, Minister of Commerce.

"We are interested in investing in Gabon. We are looking at either getting a licence from the local Government or participating in the privatisation of the State-run telecom company. We are keen to have a local partner in Gabon rather than going it ourselves," said Mr Mittal during the meeting, covered exclusively by Business Line.

Gabon has a population of 1.5 million and has four telecom service providers already.

Mr Biyoghe said that Bharti was welcome to invest in telecom sector and asked Mr Mittal to send a detailed proposal to the President, Mr Omar Bongo, who is in India on a personal visit.

"We will back Bharti fully if it wants to invest in our country. The company must, however, ensure that it rolls out infrastructure across the country and trains our people," said Mr Biyoghe.

On Bharti's offer to pick up stake in Gabon Telecom, Mr Biyoghe said that the privatisation of the company was a prestigious project and Bharti would be required to send in an expression of interest.

"If the Government has not already decided on the privatisation process of the company, then Bharti may be able to participate."

In response, Mr Mittal said that Bharti would revolutionise the telecom sector in Gabon by offering low tariffs. "At present, the tariffs in Gabon are about 25-30 cents a minute. In India we are offering mobile services at two cents a minute. We will crash the prices in Gabon."

He invited industrialist Mr Anil Nanda, who is also the Consul of the Republic of Gabon in India, to be part of the telecom venture in the country.

Bharti had earlier tried entering other African countries like Botswana and had also bid to acquire Celltel, which has presence in a number of African countries including Tanzania, Ghana and Gabon.

The company has made investments in Mauritius, Seychelles, and the Channel Islands.

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