Qtel to increase stake in Tunisiana to 90%

Qatar Telecom (Qtel) has reached an agreement with the Tunisian government to acquire a further 15% stake in wireless operator Tunisiana for USD360 million, news portal Arabian Business reports. The purchase will increase Qtel’s holding in Tunisiana to 90%, whilst the Tunisian government will retain the remaining 10%. Qtel’s chairman Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Bin Saud al-Thani was quoted as saying: ‘We are pleased to have been offered the opportunity to further increase our shareholding in Tunisiana…We also look forward to continuing our partnership with the Tunisian authorities as Tunisiana enters into a new phase of its development with the continuing expansion of 3G services and the launch of fixed line services in 2013.’