MTN gets competition OK for Verizon SA deal

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - MTN, Africa's biggest cell phone operator by subscribers, has won competition approval for its acquisition of Verizon's African businesses, which it is buying to add muscle to its data division.

MTN is buying a 69.38 percent stake in Verizon South Africa, a unit of U.S.-based Verizon Communciations, for an undisclosed amount to help it better compete with rivals such as Dimension Data in the corporate communications market.

Verizon Business South Africa provides telecommunications to corporate customers in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Kenya.

South African technology firm Altech had initially objected to the deal on grounds it would give MTN too much control of the local communications market, but withdrew its opposition on Wednesday.

The Competition Tribunal said on Thursday it had approved the deal without conditions.