Etisalat, CK Hutchison to merge Sri Lanka operations

Deal is part of Abu Dhabi-based telecom operator’s strategy of portfolio optimisation

Etisalat and Hong Kongbased CK Hutchison have agreed to merge their mobile telecommunications operations in Sri Lanka yesterday, the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange said.

The statement said that Hutchison Telecommunications Lanka (Private) Limited (Hutch Lanka) and Etisalat Lanka (Private) Limited (ESL) will be in a better positioned to serve their Sri Lankan customers.

The deal is part of Etisalat Group’s stated strategy and ongoing efforts of portfolio optimisation.

The Abu Dhabi-based telecom operator operates in 16 countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Upon completion of the transaction, Hutchison will have the majority and controlling stake in the combined entity.

The statement said that the completion of the transaction is still subject to a number of conditions precedent, which include among others, securing the necessary competition and regulatory approvals in Sri Lanka.

Fewer players

The takeover would see the Sri Lankan market reduced to four from five mobile operators — Dialog, Mobitel, Bharti Airtel and Hutch Lanka.

According to industry sources, Sri Lanka had 28.12 million mobile subscribers in 2017; out of that Dialog is the biggest mobile operator with 12.8 million subscribers and Mobitel with 6.8 million.

Etisalat Lanka got the mobile licence to operate in Sri Lanka for 10 years from the telecommunications regulatory and that expires next September.