With a merger deal between mobile operator Vodacom, and fixed line business, Neotel believed to be imminent, MTN has questioned the\u00a0transferability\u00a0of spectrum between the two companies.<\/p>\n
Neotel and Vodacom confirmed at the end of September that they had entered into exclusive discussions regarding a potential acquisition of 100% of the shares of Neotel by Vodacom SA.<\/p>\n
Neotel has access to spectrum which Vodacom needs for its Long Term Evolution network.<\/p>\n
“Its not\u00a0acceptable\u00a0as far as we understand,” said\u00a0Sifiso Dabengwa, group chief executive and president of MTN, speaking at the\u00a0company’s\u00a0results presentation earlier in the week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is the rule or law that must be followed,” Dabengwa asked, adding: “For us to get in the way to block it is not the right way to do it. \u201c<\/p>\n
He said, however, that there should be a law around the transfer of spectrum.<\/p>\n
MTN South Africa CEO, Zunaid Bulbulia said that, should\u00a0the transferability of spectrum become “kosher” in SA, MTN would be able to move on that change.<\/p>\n
S\u00e9bastien Crozier<\/a>, CEO of\u00a0Orange Horizons<\/a>, the local\u00a0subsidiary of the global telco\u00a0Orange<\/a>, has told BusinessTech previously that should\u00a0Vodacom<\/a>\u00a0take control of\u00a0Neotel<\/a>, the latter\u2019s radio frequency spectrum\u00a0should be given back to government.<\/p>\n \u201cIs convergence their (Vodacom) real interest in South Africa, or are they more interested in frequency?\u201d\u00a0Crozier asked.<\/p>\n The chief executive said that the authority should not allow Neotel to keep the frequency under a different shareholder, namely Vodacom.<\/p>\n \u201cThe frequency is not supposed to be resold,\u201d Crozier said. \u201cFrequency belongs to the state, and not private players.\u201d<\/p>\n Vodacom-Neotel details \u201cweeks away\u201d<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Neotel spectrum belongs to the state<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nMore on MTN, Vodacom and Neotel<\/h3>\n