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Reliance Communications (RCom) has acquired a Uganda-based telecommunications company, Anupam Global Soft.
The acquisition will enable the Anil Ambani group company to foray into the African country. However, financial transactions of the deal were not disclosed.
Anupam Global Soft has a Public Infrastructure Provider Licence (PIPL) and a Public Service Provider Licence (PSPL) that were issued by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC). The company was allocated spectrum to launch mobile services by the end of 2008, RCom said in a release today.
The Indian telecom major is also targeting to invest up to $500 million (Rs 2,000 crore) in establishing an internet Protocol-enabled integrated telecom network in Uganda.
Under the existing licences, RCom intends to offer mobile, fixed line, internet, national and international long-distance services in addition to WiMax and Wifi services in Uganda.
"The Ugandan telecom market is similar to what India's was 8 years ago. Our expertise in managing the world's largest integrated telecom network and deep understanding of diverse consumer segments makes us confident to achieve a significant position to add further value for our 2 million shareholders," said Punit Garg, president, Global Business, RCom.
Uganda has a population of around 30 million and a mobile subscriber base of 3.02 million as of March 2007 with a 10 per cent telecom penetration rate. The existing telecom players have been witnessing healthy subscriber and ARPU growth recently.
The company plans to connect the African continent with the rest of the world by laying a submarine cable system through its arm, Reliance FLAG, and plans to spend $1.5 billion (Rs 6,000 crore) on building a 1.15-km, fully IP-enabled optic network to reach two-third of the world's population.
