Bharti Airtel subsidiary Indus Towers sets up UAE arm to scout Africa agreements

Bharti Airtel subsidiary Indus Towers will use the UAE as a base from which to expand into Africa, Business Standard reports. Newly incorporated Indus Towers FZE is eying Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia at the outset.

Indian telecom giant Airtel already has a big presence in Africa, with over 169.4 mn customers in 14 markets across the continent. The subsidiary will focus on commercial ventures and management services, with Airtel’s Africa business as its anchor customer.

The UAE is a hub for other Bharti units: The UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority recently gave Airtel Money, a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel’s Africa arm, regulatory approval to pursue a listing in the Emirates.

BACKGROUND: Indus Towers is India’s largest passive telecom-infrastructure provider, operating 256k towers across India.