MTN becomes stakeholder in Belgacom ICS

Belgium’s Belgacom ICS (BICS) and Sout African operator MTN have announced the closing of the transaction that results in a combination of their international carrier services and MTN taking a 20 per cent equity stake in BICS. The agreement was originally announced in June and received approval of all relevant government, regulatory and competition authorities in the meantime.

As of today, December 1, BICS began to progressively integrate MTN ICS, MTN’s international wholesale subsidiary, and will act as the official gateway for carrier services of MTN globally.

Belgacom will own 57.6 per cent of BICS, Swisscom 22.4 per cent and MTN 20.0 per cent with a board representation.

Through this transaction, BICS reinforces its footprint and will become the leading international wholesale operator in Africa. MTN will benefit from improved efficiencies and greater economies of scale while offering its customers in Africa and the Middle East an improved high quality international service offering.