Airtel signs definitive agreement to fully acquire Warid Uganda
Will combine the strengths of two entities to serve over 7.4 million customers in Uganda withworld-class and affordable services
Customers to enjoy wider network coverage and distribution reach as well as innovative products& services.
Existing Warid Uganda customers will join over 269 million customers on Airtel‟s global network across 20 countries and enjoy the benefits of a superior network, international roaming, and highquality 3G speed as well as Airtel Money services.
Airtel to consolidate its position in the Ugandan market with its first ever in-market acquisition.
New Delhi/Kampala, April 23rd , 2013: Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), a leading global telecommunications services provider with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa,
today said that it has entered into a definitive agreement with the Warid Group (“Warid”) to fully
acquire Warid Telecom Uganda. With this, Airtel will further consolidate its position as the secondlargest mobile operator in Uganda with a combined customer base of over 7.4 million and marketshare of over 39%. The agreement is subject to regulatory and statutory approvals.The agreement aims to bring together the strengths of Airtel and Warid in Uganda and offer benefits to customers in the form of a superior and wider network, affordable voice and dataservices, and superior customer care. Airtel currently has 4.6 million customers in Uganda. Theexisting 2.8 million Warid customers in Uganda will join Airtel‟s global network that serves over 269 million customers. They enjoy, amongst other things, benefits of the „One Airtel‟ network with
lower roaming rates across Africa and South Asia, an exciting bouquet of innovative services andaccess to exclusive Premier Club services for High Value Customers.
Speaking on the agreement, Mr. Manoj Kohli, MD and CEO (International), Bharti Airtel said, “We are delighted at this agreement with Warid, which also happens to be the first in-market
acquisition in Bharti Airtel‟s history. We believe this market consolidation offers great synergies by bringing together the best of Airtel and Warid to better serve customers in Uganda and driveforward our vision of offering affordable best in-class services in Africa. This development willtranslate to a healthier telecom sector in Uganda which will be ready to invest & grow in wireless broadband & mCommerce services”.
Speaking on the agreement Mohammed Nahayan, Board Member, Warid Uganda said “We are
extremely pleased with this development, which offers Warid consumers added benefits likewider network coverage, most extensive 3G network and world class products and services from one of the world‟s largest mobile services provider. This is a win-win for Warid customers who willnow benefit from being part of a 7.4 million combined user base in Uganda. »With presence across 17 African countries, Airtel is the largest telecom service provider acrossthe Continent in terms of geographical reach and had over 62 million customers at the end of quarter ended December 31, 2012. Globally, Airtel is ranked as the 4th largest mobile servicesprovider in terms of customer base.
About Bharti Airtel
Bharti Airtel Limited is a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 20countries across Asia and Africa.Headquartered in New Delhi, India, the company ranks amongst the top 4 mobile serviceproviders globally in terms of subscribers. In India, the company’s product offerings include 2G,3G and 4G wireless services, mobile commerce, fixed line services, high speed DSL broadband,IPTV, DTH, enterprise services including national & international long distance services tocarriers. In the rest of the geographies, it offers 2G, 3G wireless services and mobile commerce.Bharti Airtel had over 269 million customers across its operations at the end of March 2013. Toknow more please visit, www.airtel.com
For more information contact:
Michael Okwiri
Vice President, Corporate Communications, Airtel Africa
Email:Michael.Okwiri@africa.airtel.com