As per the reports given by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) for the financial year 2007-08, India is occupied 3rd position in the list of most number of mobile phone users.
First two positions are seated by China and U.S.
In the pecking order of total mobile subscribers (CDMA and GSM), India is fourth behind China, US and Russia which is according to the reports last November. However, while Russia is adding about 2 millions a month, India is adding about 7-8 million and is expected to grow to even 9-10 million a month.
Now it is the time to extend more over the abroad for Bharti Airtel India. After nearly two weeks of speculation and denials, the South African mobile network company MTN has said it is in ‘exploratory’ discussions with the New Delhi-based Bharti group for a possible takeover or a strategic alliance.
As per the reports of the Financial Times, "Bharti Airtel was considering two options".
The first was a 51 percent acquisition of MTN while still retaining its listing on the JSE;
The second was a buyout of MTN with a cash and share offer to shareholders, with a secondary listing on the JSE for Bharti Airtel.
The two companies have a market value which is reasonably similar – Bharti Airtel is valued at about $44b and MTN at $35b. MTN has more than 68m clients in Africa and the Middle East.