Following the promulgation in 2006 of the liberalizing Electronic Communications Act, South Africa’s telecommunications sector has been in a state of suspended animation. Numerous restructurings and investments have already taken place among the smaller players.

However, for most of the past year, the three main network operators, Telkom, MTN and Vodacom, have all been involved in (hitherto unconsummated) merger or buyout negotiations with potential domestic and foreign partners.

To read this article in full in Forbes, see www.forbes.com/2008/08/26/south-africa-telecom-cx_0827oxford.html.