Reliance, led by the richest Asian man, Mukesh Ambani, is set to make big moves. The multinational conglomerate is proceeding into Africa’s mobile broadband market via a Telecoms venture. With the launch of Next-Gen InfraCo, the company’s objective is to provide top-notch digital services in Ghana at affordable prices. On the other hand, it has proposed a merger between Viacom18-Star India and SIPL (Star India Pvt. Ltd.)
Viacom18-Star India Merger
According to the PTI (Press Trust of India) report, Reliance Industries has requested clearance from the CCI (Competition Commission of India) for the $8.5 billion SIPL and Viacom 18 merger. The merger proposes to integrate the entertainment operations of Viacom 18, a subsidiary of Reliance, and SIPL, which is owned by The Walt Disney Company (TWDC)
The media giants TWDC and Reliance Industries announced their merger agreement in February 2024. If the merger succeeds, TWDC will become the largest company in the media and entertainment industry, with over 100 channels available in different languages, two OTT platforms, and 750 million viewers in the country.
Entering The African Broadband Market
According to a Bloomberg report, Ambani is set to enter Africa with a telecom venture. Harkirit Singh, the executive director of NGIC, shared that the Reliance unit Radisys Corp will provide the company with key network infrastructure, applications, and smartphones.
NGIC will provide 5G infrastructure to other operators and internet providers in Ghana. The company’s team includes Nokia, Microsoft, Indian outsourcer Tech Mahindra, and Radisys Corp. Ghana is a small African country with 33 million population and has three main operators: MTN Ghana, Vodafone Ghana, and state-run AirtelTigo. Harkirit shared with Bloomberg that NGIC’s partners, technological prowess, and possessing Ghana’s only 5G license will help the company build broadband services at scale.
Reliance is definitely on a roll, making two major moves. The Viacom18 merger will take the entertainment industry by storm. Meanwhile, entering Africa will help Reliance stand tall against Airtel.
