Another black empowerment company has joined the rush to bid for the upcoming third cellular license, reports Business Day. According to the daily, the NextCom consortium will submit its bid with black-owned partner Maluti Telecommunications.
More partners are expected to be announced next week.
The Labat-led Khuluma 084 is also expected to announce new partners next week, including, says CEO Brian van Rooyen, an international operator and financial institution and further local partners. Khuluma has already indicated that its consortium has the support of the Communications Workers Union and the National African Chamber of Commerce, among others. Labat is to list on the JSE by the end of the month.
Speculation is rife that international partners are loath to enter the race, after protracted feasibility studies and the temporary suspension of the telecommunications amendment bill, which was aimed at facilitating the entry of the new player into a market dominated by MTN and Vodacom.
Bids for the third license are to be submitted to regulatory body SATRA by 14 June.
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