Airtel Malawi

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Celtel Limited Malawi received a license to launch a GSM network in Malawi in December 1998. The 15-year contract, which was renewable, provided for the nationwide buildup of a GSM mobile network. The network was launched in October 1999 and covered the areas of Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu, Zomba, Salima, Mangochi. The company was owned by MSI Cellular Investments (80%) along with the state-owned Malawi Development Corp (10%) and Investment and Development Bank of Malawi (10%). Shareholders in MSI included CDC Capital Partners, IFC (International Finance Corporation), AIG Infrastructure Fund, and Citigroup. In January 2004, MSI Cellular Investments changed its name to Celtel International. In May 2005, Celtel was acquired by Mobile Telecommunications Co. (MTC) of Kuwait for US$3.4 billion. In April 2004, Cetel acquired the remaining shares it did not own from the Malawi Development Corp and Investment and Development Bank of Malawi for an undisclosed amount. As at the end of 2005, Celtel Malawi competed with Telekom Networks and was the market leader with about 200,000 subscribers. In June 2010, Bharti Airtel announced it will invest U$100 million. Capex 2011 based on Bharti Airtel annual report: parent capex * subscribers Airtel country subsidiary / subscribers of total Bharti Airtel (200.878m) Capex 2012: Ibid (241.1million) Capex 2013: Ibid (271.2 million users; 2.486bn global capex)