MTN Group, Africa's largest cellphone network operator, Tuesday denied it had approached India's largest mobile operator about possibly restarting tie-up talks.
"On this occasion, we refute that speculative comment," Nozipho January-Bardill, spokeswoman for the Johannesburg-based company, said.
MTN customarily won't comment on what it deems to be speculative reports and rumors.
India's Economic Times earlier Tuesday reported that MTN had sounded out Bharti Airtel about reviving merger talks should it fail to agree a combination with India's Reliance Communications.
MTN and Bharti called off talks in late May after they failed to agree the structure of a possible merger. MTN almost immediately after entered exclusive negotiations with Reliance, the timeframe for which was last week extended until July 21.
Source:Dow Jones
