Zain Nigeria, one of the biggest operations of the group in the Middle East & Africa region is set to grow its market share further. The operator will expand its existing fiber network to ensure superior quality and secure services to a growing subscriber base. On the heels of an immensely successful project to build a 4000 km nationwide fiber backbone network, Zain has extended its contract with Nokia Siemens Networks to handle implementation of the additional 600 km.

Vivendi announced in a short statement today that it has called-off talks to acquire a majority stake in Zain’s African mobile businesses. Vivendi announced that it is interrupting talks, started some weeks ago, with the Kuweiti Group Zain, to acquire a majority stake in its African telecommunications activities.

Vivendi confirms its interest for acquiring a majority stake in the Zain group’s telecommunications activities in Africa, in line with its clearly defined strategy of seeking growth opportunities in emerging countries.

Ericsson, and leading mobile operator in the Middle East and Africa, Zain, have joined partners to lift 5,000 in rural Nigeria, out of the throes of poverty through the provision of mobile telecom service.