Starcomms Moves to Acquire MTS First Spectrum

MTS First Wireless, pioneer private telephone operator, has begun move to sale its spectrum license it acquired from Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to Starcomms Plc in a deal estimated at some N100 million, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can now reveal.
Though both parties are still keeping a lid on the transaction, what can be confirmed is that Starcomms has made overtures to MTS but the parties are yet to agree in principle.
Spectrum license enable telecommunications operator having the license to rollout Wimax or wireless service in the country.
When contacted Reuben Mouka, head, public affairs of Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) said that deal was normal but cannot sail through if the acquiring company buys a stake in the moribund licensee.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that if the deal is concluded, it will give Starcomms the needed capacity to roll out more wireless broadband services in major cities in the country.
MTS First has been bedeviled with managerial challenges occasioned by power tussle among shareholders of the company.
When this was resolved the present owners could not muster the required financial muscle to compete in the telecom space with just a handful of subscribers.