Vodafone Group is preparing a bid for a new mobile-phone license in Zambia that will enable the UK company to add voice services to its data product in the southern African country, according to a person familiar with the matter.<\/p>\n
Winning the auction would give Newbury, England-based Vodafone a way of expanding Zambia operations run by local partner Afrimax, said the person, who asked not to be identified as the company hasn\u2019t made its intentions public.<\/p>\n
The successful bidder would be competing with Johannesburg-based MTN Group, the country\u2019s market leader with more than 48% market share, India\u2019s Bharti Airtel and state-owned Zamtel.<\/p>\n
The government has given the green light to Zambia\u2019s telecommunications regulator to start the process of awarding the country\u2019s fourth mobile-phone license, Transport and Communications Minister Brian Mushimba said on Monday. The new operator could be in place within a year, he said.<\/p>\n
The impending auction represents a rare opportunity for international mobile-phone companies to expand in a growing African market without making an acquisition.<\/p>\n
Zambia, Africa\u2019s second-biggest copper producer with a population of more than 16 million, had 12.4 million active mobile subscribers at the end of June, 10% more than a year before, according to data from the finance ministry.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt an appropriate and opportune time, Vodafone Zambia will make a comprehensive statement,\u201d Vodafone Zambia spokesman Mukuka Mulenga said in emailed response to questions.<\/p>\n
Vodafone operates in Africa mainly through majority ownership of Johannesburg-based Vodacom Group, MTN\u2019s cross-town rival. It retains a standalone business in Ghana, while Afrimax also operates a Vodafone-branded data provider in Cameroon.<\/p>\n